Butt of Lewis works finished on schedule

Water supply improvements completed in Eoropie.

UBC Hebrides has recently completed around £1M worth of water improvements to a popular stretch of the Lewis coastline.

Managing Director of UBC Hebrides, Iain Peteranna said; “Our Company has worked in some of the most challenging environments in the islands.  The Butt of Lewis is a spectacular area, and you can imagine some of the weather we experienced in such an exposed part of the Hebrides.  We are delighted to have completed this project on schedule."

Scottish Water’s work at Eoropie in Ness involved the installation of new septic tanks and screens to improve the way sewage is treated.  New discharge pipes, 300 metres long, have also been fitted so that the cleaned-up effluent is discharged further out to sea.

The project is part of Scottish Water’s 2010 Vision for the Western Isles, a £58M programme of improvements from Barra to the Butt of Lewis.

The new treatment works is close to the beach at the Eoropie Dunes near the northernmost point of the Western Isles, the Butt of Lewis.  Due to its fine golden sands it is popular with walkers and attracts many visitors, particularly surfers who come for the big waves that crash in from the Atlantic.

Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water’s communities manager for the Western Isles, said: “Our aim is to make sure our customers in all parts of Scotland, both urban and rural, get the best quality service.  This investment represents a vote of confidence in the future of the local community in the Ness Area of Lewis.  We hope our effort to protect the environment and enable development will make a positive difference to the local economy.”

The upgraded works has the capacity to serve approximately 800 people.  Graham Alexander, Stornoway based senior project manager for Scottish Water Solutions, added:  “We are delighted we have managed to complete this project to schedule and tha tit is now successfully up and running.  The works has an improved capacity which will allow more flexibility for future developments in the surrounding area.  Importantly it will also provide a cleaner environment for the people who use the nearby beach.”

Photographs by LENSonSCOTLAND www.lensonscotland.co.uk