Work started in April to replace an ageing water main with a new 0.8 mile-long pipe under the Sound of Iona, linking with the network on Mull. The project has now been finished on schedule.
The new main will improve the resilience of the water supply and reduce the risk of bursts affecting the customers on the island, whose population can more than treble in the summer.
The pipe was laid from the back of a specialist barge and Scottish Water ensured that the switch to the new water pipe did not result in a disruption to supply.
Iona Community Council convenor John MacLean welcomed the completion of the project, saying: “We are very pleased that this important project has been completed and we were very happy with Scottish Water’s communication with customers before and during the project, which has been exemplary.”
Disruption in the area was minimal, with a small team carrying out localised excavation work on Iona and Mull without any need for traffic management.
The project involved the installation of a plastic pipeline housed in a metal casing, which was laid over the sea-bed in the Sound of Iona.
Scottish Water regional communities manager Ruaridh MacGregor said: “Scottish Water is delighted to have completed this important project for the island of Iona.
“We are committed to investing in communities across Scotland to maintain and improve our water network and services to customers. The new water main will significantly improve the resilience of the island’s water supply for many years to come.”