MP see progress of new £15 million investment in Turriff water works
A LOCAL MP has visited Turriff's Water Treatment Works to see a £15 million investment.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid was a guest of Scottish Water at the Turriff works where investment is seeing upgrades and future-proofing taking place.
The major project aims to secure the quality of drinking water in Turriff and the surrounding areas for the future.
Possible disruption from power cuts are also in the scheme's sights, as the investment aims to prepare the facility for future extreme weather events, like Storms Arwen, Corrie and Malik.
Mr Duguid said: “It was truly fascinating to visit the Turriff Water Treatment Works and see just how much goes into securing our public water supply.
“The work being done to modernise the works, while maintaining supply is great to see."
Turriff's water treatment works is one of Scottish Water’s strategic north-east sites, drawing water from the River Deveron and supplying 80,000 customers per day, together with three other large works.
Some equipment at Turriff is nearing the end of its operational life, but the current project will modernise the facility, with a new motor control centre and standby generator.
The ten rapid gravity filters which form the main part of the water treatment process will all be refurbished and upgraded, with work to finish by summer 2023.
Mr Duguid was shown around the site by Scottish Water’s local water operations team leader Darren Still and investment delivery project manager Jim Gordon.
Jim Gordon said: “One of the biggest challenges with the kind of work we’re doing at Turriff is delivering significant construction work while ensuring the site can continue to supply drinking water to customers throughout.
“We’ve worked very hard with our supply chain and with the local operational team to find the best ways of doing that.
"Our lead contractor RSE (Ross-shire Engineering) has used their Water Technologies Centre in Muir of Ord to design, build and test some of the most complex new equipment off-site, on a modular basis.
“This means that in the course of a few carefully planned deliveries to the site in Turriff, rapid progress has been made with fewer road miles, reduced disruption to the local community and less impact on the day-to-day operation of the site.
“Throughout our project’s time on site, we have also had to be very mindful of Covid at every stage.
"While we continue to work with care, it is welcome that we are now able to show people some of the work that has been happening.”
Mr Duguid said: “I was also glad to learn about the work Scottish Water is doing to encourage more responsible use of the water network.
“I look forward to hearing more and thank the team at Scottish Water for showing me round.”
