An action group set up to fight for improvements to the water supply in Strathspey is encouraging local people to attend one of Scottish Water’s latest round of information events.
Strathspey Water Group was set up in the wake of complaints that the water smelled and tasted so bad that even animals did not want to drink it.
Members were also concerned it could be causing health problems affecting skin, eyes and stomachs.
Their views are supported by world-famous environmentalist Erin Brockovich.
And the public utility has now announced a series of events to discuss its plans to chloraminate the water supply in the area, which involves adding less chlorine and very small quantities of ammonia.
Scottish Water opened a new water treatment works at Aviemore four years ago.
At the same time, the source of the area’s raw water was changed from Loch Einich – which was insufficient and unable to meet future economic and housing growth – to boreholes at Kinakyle, south of Aviemore.
Strathspey Water Group is chaired by farmer John Kirk, of Rothiemoon Farm, Nethy Bridge, who claimed his cows and dogs were reluctant to drink the water.
Mr Kirk said: “We will make sure there will be some of our members at every meeting, but we need to get the public along as well.
“Folk are still complaining about the water and saying they don’t want chloramination.
“If they don’t go, then we will be wasting our time.”
Simon Parsons, who is Scottish Water’s director of strategic customer service planning, said the water supplied to customers in the Aviemore area was safe to drink and 100 per cent compliant with quality standards, but not to everyone’s liking.
He said: “We have been listening to our customers and recently announced plans to carry out further enhancements to our treatment processes in the area.
“The process we propose to introduce – chloramination – allows us to reduce the level of chlorine and help to improve the taste of local drinking water.”
He added that this process was widely used across the UK, with approximately 25 per cent of Scottish Water customers currently receiving chloraminated water.
The drop-in events will be held at Boat of Garten Village Hall on Thursday May 26, Aviemore Community Centre on Thursday June 2, Newtonmore Village Hall on Monday June 6, Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie on Wednesday June 8 and Grantown on Spey YMCA Community Centre on Wednesday June 15. All will run from 4pm to 7pm.
