Scottish Water plans £7m expansion of Sandy Loch site

FURTHER investment is being planned by Scottish Water in Shetland in the shape of a new storage tank on the outskirts of Lerwick.

The project would see the Sandy Loch water treatment works increase in size by 0.45ha, extending northwest.

The estimated cost of the tank plus associated infrastructure and work is £7 million.

The proposed new concrete clean water storage tank would be low level and partially buried, and it would replace existing steel tanks from the 1970s.

The extra capacity would improve the resilience of the drinking water supply for people in the Central and South Mainland, Scottish Water said.

It comes after plans emerged for a replacement Eela Water treatment works in Northmavine, which could cost £40 million.

A spokesperson for the utility said: “We are seeking planning consent for a new water storage tank next to at Sandy Loch Water Treatment Works.

“The additional storage capacity at the site will improve the resilience of the drinking water supply for around 6,100 customers served by the site in the Central and South Mainland, from Girlsta to Sumburgh, and Burra to Bressay.

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“The proposed new treated water storage tank is part of a larger project which would also see a new material store and disinfection stage also provided at Sandy Loch WTW.

“The new larger concrete tank will allow two old steel tanks constructed in the mid-1970s to be removed from service and demolished.

“We have developed our plans in order to limit impact on the nearest neighbours of the WTW as far as possible.

“Subject to planning approval, the team from our delivery partner ESD will do all they can to keep any short-term disruption during construction to a minimum, while delivering the long-term benefit of the investment.”