Loch Ness Water Investment
Project Overview
Scottish Water is delivering a multi-million pound project to provide a single, improved water supply to serve our customers in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston.
The work is being carried out by Scottish Water's alliance partner Efficient Service Delivery (ESD) and is expected to be complete Winter 2022.
At A Glance
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New WTW to produce up to 1 million litres of water per day
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10km of connecting water main, with river and canal crossing
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3 to 4 years duration
New water treatment works for Loch Ness
Watch a short video about the delivery of the new Water Treatment Works to its permanent home in early 2020
What We Are Doing
The project we are delivering in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston involves significant renewal of the drinking water infrastructure that serves both communities. There are multiple elements of work, many of which are progressing simultaneously:- A new Raw Water Intake and pumping station near to the old Invermoriston Pier, below the A82 just south of the village
- A new state-of-the-art Water Treatment Works, capable of producing 1 million litres of clear, fresh drinking water each day. The new WTW uses nano-filtration membrane technology and is located in an area of forestry above the A82, a short distance south of Invermoriston
- Around 10 kilometres of new water main connecting Invermoriston and Fort Augustus, largely following the low route of the Great Glen Way
- A new water storage tank on the hillside to the north of Fort Augustus; and new storage capacity at the existing Invermoriston Water Treatment Works
- A new and more secure water main crossing drilled beneath the River Oich and the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus
- Two booster pumping stations and a renewed water main to continue serving customers on the B862 south of Fort Augustus
The new Water Treatment Works will use a different treatment process called chloramination. Further details about chloramination are available below.
Why We Are Doing This
The investment we are making will provide a single, improved drinking water supply to serve around 1,250 customers in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston for many years to come. The use of a high quality and plentiful supply of raw water from Loch Ness will help us to cater to significant seasonal demand in the area from tourism on a sustainable basis.
Autumn 2022 update
The most significant construction work has been completed and the successful commissioning of the new state-of-the-art Water Treatment Works carried out, meaning customers in the two villages are now receiving their water from a single supply taken from Loch Ness.
The final elements of the project are currently underway, including the sliplining of some water mains and the installation of two new network pump stations to serve properties above Fort Augustus.
Loch Ness project progress
Progress both on and off site to meet the future needs of Great Glen communities and support the success of tourism in the local area
Chloramination
Chloramination has been used in the water industry throughout the UK for many years as a reliable and effective way to treat water to ensure it is safe to drink.The chloramination process lasts longer in the pipe distribution system than using chlorine on its own, so there is no need to add further chlorine along the network of pipes, meaning levels of chlorine in the water are reduced. Unlike chlorine, chloramination also has the benefit of having no significant taste or odour. Chloraminated water is safe for bathing, drinking, cooking and all uses we have for water every day.
Customers in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston will have received notification by postcard informing them of the upcoming changes to their water.
Owners of fish, aquatic reptiles and amphibians
Owners of fish, aquatic reptiles and amphibians will need to ensure their tank is fitted with the correct type of filtration equipment. Your local veterinary surgery, pet store or specialist online aquatic pet supplier can provide further advice about equipment suited to your pet.
The change in the treatment process is expected to take place during Summer 2021.
Please see the links below for more information on Chloramination:
- Chloramination Explained Video
- Chloramination Explained Leaflet
- Chloramination - advice for fish or aquatic pet owners
Engaging with the local community
A series of information events took place in 2018 to share details of our planned work with residents in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston, answer questions and receive feedback - including an event specifically to discuss the management of work affecting the low route of the Great Glen Way. The information posters from the original information events are available to download below.
We are also regularly in touch with Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Commmunity Council to keep members informed of the project's progress and discuss any issues.
If you need to get in touch to raise a query about the project please email help@scottishwater.co.uk or call 0800 077 8778, quoting the reference Capital/403127/LochNess.
![Signage on the Great Glen Way while the new water main was installed between Invermoriston and Fort Augustus Signage was displayed to divert users of the Great Glen Way while the new water main was installed along the low route between Invermoriston and Fort Augustus](/-/media/ScottishWater/Images/Investment/Loch-Ness/GreatGlenWay487x250.png?bc=Black&as=0&h=250&iar=0&w=487&hash=57CFFDAE08A4E6C88C7BC0FC2CB06591)
Diversion signage was displayed during earlier phases of work that impacted on the lower route of the Great Glen Way
![New pipebridge crossing the Allt na Criche, part of the new water main connecting Invermoriston and Fort Augustus Pipebridge crossing the Allt na Criche, part of the new water main connecting Invermoriston and Fort Augustus](/-/media/ScottishWater/Images/Investment/Loch-Ness/AlltNaCrichePipebridge487x250.png?bc=Black&as=0&h=250&iar=0&w=487&hash=9DF439BB452D36FF4A2C481E62F209B9)
A number of pipebridges have been installed along the route of the new water main connecting the two communities