The utility plans to introduce chloramination – an alternative disinfection process to chlorination – to further improve the taste of drinking water.
The £24 million Aviemore water treatment works, opened in 2012, has improved the quality of the tap water delivered to more than 10,000 homes around Badenoch and Strathspey. Scottish Water’s tests and those of the Drinking Water Quality Regulator have found that the supply at Aviemore is of an extremely high standard.
However, some customers have found chlorine levels, which are necessary to ensure the water quality is safe, not to their taste.
Scottish Water announced the chloramination plan at a recent community event in Aviemore where customers were given the opportunity to meet the chief executive and other directors from Scottish Water and ask questions about a range of subjects.
Ahead of the expected introduction of the process by the summer of 2017, Scottish Water is undertaking a wide-ranging engagement process in the area. Every household and business will be written to and invited to further information events on chloramination, which is widely used in other parts of the UK.
Simon Parsons, Strategic Customer Service Planning Director, said: “We want all our customers to enjoy the look and taste of their tap water. Water quality across Scotland is at its highest ever level.
“We are now outlining our plans to introduce chloramination – a process which allows us to reduce the level of chlorine – and further improve the taste of the drinking water received by customers through their taps.
“This new water supply introduced in 2012 for Aviemore provides high quality water, a security of supply and the ability to support a growing community. We always accepted that a small number of customers may be more sensitive to the changes in their water supply. We have been listening carefully to our customers and working with our operational teams to find the right solution to ensure that everyone enjoys this new supply. We remain committed to continuing to listen and work with the community.
“Further information will be available in information meetings and on our website. We have also given our commitment to invite customers to another community event to speak to Directors six months after the introduction of the new process. ”
Chloramination, which uses both chlorine and ammonia, is a treatment process which lasts longer within the pipe distribution system than using chlorine on its own. Unlike chlorine, chloramines have the benefit of having no significant taste or odour.
This article first appeared in Utility Week’s sister title WWTonline