Jamie meets The Queen at opening of water treatment plant

Jul 10 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

AN 11-year-old Strathaven boy was one of the VIP guests when The Queen last week officially opened the new Milngavie Water Treatment Works.

Jamie Naylor presented The Queen with a bouquet of flowers at the official opening on Thursday of the £120 million new state-of-the-art facility which will supply 700,000 people in the area and replaces the original plant built in 1859.

Almost 150 years ago the plant was opened by Queen Victoria, the Queen’s great, great grand-mother.

Ronnie Mercer, chairman of Scottish Water, said: “This is the jewel in the crown of the investment being delivered by Scottish Water.

“We are extremely honoured that Queen Victoria’s great, great grand-daughter was present to mark our new investment, bringing clearer, fresher drinking water that our customers.”

Although retaining significant portions of the upgraded Victorian infrastructure for operational use, the multi-faceted Katrine Water Project mainly comprises an ultra-modern treatment works, two covered reservoirs, pumping station, a complicated formation of tunnels and intake structures, and a number of other schemes which complement and significantly extend the overall operation.