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 Press releases, Date: 12 January 2000 First steps taken in water quality improvement
The work is the first step in an £18 million package of improvements which will ultimately see the construction of a new water treatment works at Penwhirn and the upgrading of the water mains network serving the area.
Lesley Clark, the Authority's Customer Services Manager in Dumfries and Galloway, said: "There is a long-standing problem of corrosion within unlined cast iron pipes serving the area.
"The presence of this corrosion can result in increased iron levels and discoloration."
Lesley said the first stage in the process would be to carry out a comprehensive programme of water mains cleaning. This will start at the water treatment works and progressively extend throughout the Penwhirn distribution system to include several communities in Wigtownshire.
"This work, starting in February, will be implemented with the aim of minimising any potential disruption to our customers in these areas.
"Works of a similar nature have been carried out effectively in the past in the Penwhirn distribution system and we can expect to see the same positive results with the proposed programme of work. Our objective is to improve and maintain the quality of water supplied until our planned capital investment programme is completed.
"Customers should be aware that there is a possibility of temporary discoloration of the water supply while this work is being carried out.
"We have made arrangements to meet community representatives to keep them fully informed."
Customers wishing more information should ring
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Notes to editors:
The majority of the affected water mains were laid using unlined cast iron pipes. The passage of soft, acidic water through these pipes over many years has caused corrosion on the inside walls.
The situation has existed in parts of Wigtownshire for the past 40 years.
An undertaking has been given to the First Minister that new treatment works will be provided at the Penwhirn site by December 2001. Procurement of the works is already under way and construction will start later this year.
Permanent up-grading work on the water mains will be complete by February 2003.
Total cost of the programme to provide the replacement water treatment works and upgrade the mains to provide drinking water meeting the required standard is £18 million.
for more information contact |
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