Wastewater improvements for Seil

Plans for £8m system will connect more than 160 properties and improve marine environment

By Iain Ramage

Published:

Scottish Water has announced plans for an £8million project at one of Argyll’s most iconic beauty spots that it claims will substantially improve the local marine environment.

A new public wastewater system will be installed on the east coast of the island of Seil which is famous for its bridge over the Atlantic.

The scheme will connect more than 160 properties in the Clachan-Seil and Balvicar areas to the network for the first time and mean an end to wastewater from almost all of them being discharged into Seil Sound with little or no treatment.

The company is confident it will improve the environment in the stretch of sea between Seil and the mainland, which the 216-year-old bridge crosses.

The improvements should help protect shellfish waters and, Scottish Water predicts, provide a boost to tourism. The scheme will also remove the need for the affected properties to use septic tanks.

The work is part of a multimillion-pound 2010 “Vision for Argyll and Bute,” a programme of investment over the next two years aimed at improving water and waste- water services throughout the area and protecting the natural environment.

The Seil project will start this week and is expected to be completed by next spring.

All the identified properties in the area will be connected to the new wastewater system. The waste water will go through the new network and will be treated at the wastewater treatment works.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency identified the need for first-time waste water provision for the area in line with Scottish ministerial objectives for environmental improvements.

Chris Toop, Scottish Water’s regional manager, said: “This is one of the biggest projects of its kind and we are confident that it will lead to a cleaner, fresher environment in a very beautiful corner of Argyll.”

Scottish Water is liaising with the local community on Seil and said it would try to plan the work schedule around the needs of businesses in the area in order to minimise disruption.

John MacLeod, the project manager, said: “We will ensure that the project is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“Where access to customers’ gardens is required as part of the project we will consult with them and ensure that all property is fully reinstated.

“The work will inevitably mean some traffic disruption in the area and, while we do not expect there to be any road closures, some traffic management might be required.”

Anyone wanting more information can contact Scottish Water on 0845 6018855.