Members of a Highland Perthshire community whose tap water was found to be riddled with deadly bugs are now being hooked up to a clean supply just weeks after their plight was revealed by The Courier.
On Monday, Scottish Water began the final stage of its prolonged four-year campaign to connect 50 households at Tummel Bridge to mains water.
First Minister Alex Salmond intervened after The Courier reported that the area’s supply was swimming with hazardous bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.
The residents get their water from a private source provided by Scottish and Southern Energy, which runs the nearby hydro plant.
They were originally told that their mains connection would go live last month after years of construction but, at the last minute, Scottish Water announced the project had been hit by delays.
Now, following pressure from Mr Salmond and local MSP Murdo Fraser, the water authority has confirmed that the first homes will finally be linked up to the mains this week.
Officials said they hope to have all properties connected before Christmas.
Also, they have finally agreed to supply residents with bottled water. Locals said they had spent a small fortune in some case as much as £600 a year on bottles, while they waited for the connection to be fixed up.
Mr Fraser said: “It is only right that Scottish Water has taken the decision to supply residents in Tummel Bridge with bottled water and I welcome this move.
“The cost of buying bottled water for cooking, cleaning and drinking was a strain on budgets and although I would like to have seen this introduced sooner, it is, nonetheless, great news.”
He added: “Tummel Bridge residents who have survived on bottled water for nearly four years will be delighted that their battle to have mains supplied water is nearly over and I can imagine no better Christmas gift than clean water.”
Resident Evelyn Brown welcomed progress by Scottish Water.
“There are still some tests to be done and our tanks will have to be flushed out but, hopefully, all will be well by Christmas. It’s good that we’ve finally been given bottled water.”