Work is due to begin this week on a £4.5m project to construct a new drinking water production plant to supply around 260 people in the remote West Highland communities of Acharacle and Salen.

The new plant, at Arivegaig to the west of Acharacle, was recently given planning permission by Highland Council. It will be a modern membrane filtration facility, stripping all impurities from the Allt Beithe river to create clear, fresh drinking water.

The project is part of Scottish Water’s 2010 Vision for the Highlands, the £200million campaign of improvements across the region. Around £26m is being invested in Lochaber, while the average household water bill remains below £1 a day.


Project Manager Neil Cowper of Scottish Water Solutions said: "Although the existing Acharacle supply is good, this project will provide greater control over the colour, clarity and quality of the drinking water so customers in the area receive a more consistent product at their taps. The existing plant has to adjust its treatment process as the quality of the raw water from the environment varies. The new plant will be able to handle these changes more smoothly."

Barry Hardy, Scottish Water's asset planner for Lochaber, said: "This project will improve supplies for customers in Acharacle and build on the recent improvements we made for customers in Salen."

The population of Acharacle is around 200. The village sits at the gateway to the Ardnamurchan peninsula, the most westerly point of the British mainland.

Last summer a 3 kilometre pipeline was laid and a pumping station was installed at a total cost of £1m to connect approximately 60 people in Salen to the Acharacle supply. The new plant is due to be fully up and running by spring 2010.

The main contractor for the Acharacle work is Highland-based firm Mansefield Construction.

(GK/JM)