The First Minister has agreed to intervene to help residents in Tummel Bridge have access to drinking water after a request from Murdo Fraser MSP.
The water supply to around 50 households in Tummel Bridge is infected with the harmful bacteria’s E Coli and Salmonella which has resulted in residents having to use bottled water for cooking, drinking and cleaning.
Murdo pressed the First Minister to intervene on behalf of his constituents and engage in talks with Scottish Water who have thus far refused to outline a date when Tummel Bridge will be connected to mains water supply.
Chamber extract below.
Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“The water supply to over 50 homes in the Tummel Bridge area has found to be contaminated with E Coli and Salmonella presenting clear health risks to local residents. Will the First Minister undertake to speak to Scottish Water and ask them to take urgent action to ensure that the long awaited replacement water supply is put in place without further delay, so my constituents will no longer require to rely on bottled water for drinking and cooking?
First Minister Alex Salmond MSP said;
“I will speak to Scottish Water today for an update on the situation and communicate that to you.”
Commenting afterwards Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“It is completely unacceptable in modern Scotland for people to be unable to drink, cook or even wash with their water supply due to the risk of dangerous infection.
“Many Tummel Bridge householders are forking out huge sums on bottled water with no compensation from Scottish Water who should be working day and night to provide safe drinking water.
“Every year thousands of Scots donate money to charities providing drinking water in the developing world yet here we have a community in Highland Perthshire facing the same problems.
“I am heartened to learn that the First Minister will be receiving an update from Scottish Water on the situation as Tummel Bridge residents simply cannot afford to wait much longer for clean water.”