Engineers working on a multi-million pounds project to lay a pipeline across the rugged north coast of Sutherland have encountered their biggest obstacle – a small furry seal pup.
Scottish Water’s £2.6million project to improve drinking water supplies in the remote community of Melness involves laying over eight kilometres of water main, including a 250 metre section buried under the Kyle of Tongue.
The grey seal pup was born right on the route of the pipe just days before it was due to be laid. The project team halted work and called out the SSPCA to give advice. After a few days the seal pup and its mother moved of their own accord and work on the pipe is now underway.
Steve Bunn, project manager for Scottish Water Solutions, said: “We planned for all sorts of eventualities but this seal pup kept us on our toes. The north coast is a wild and sensitive environment so we take our responsibilities seriously. Thankfully the pup has moved on and we’re back on track to deliver a better water supply for the community.”
Audrey Gunn, the SSPCA's senior inspector at Thurso, praised Scottish Water's contractors for seeking advice. She said: "We prefer that people who find these animals contact us rather than try to intervene themselves. Seal pups look cute but they can carry diseases and can be quite feisty. This one has been ashore to cast its coat but hunger will have driven it back to sea."
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Prior to the project starting detailed consultation was carried out and mitigation measures were put in place to avoid known otter holts and a colony of water voles. An archaeologist was also employed to monitor excavations across the remote moor land as there was evidence of ancient hut circles in the area.
There are about 100 households in Melness, a scattered community of old crofting townships north-west of the Kyle of Tongue. It is expected that they will be connected to the improved drinking water supply by April next year.
At the moment they are supplied from a small treatment works that struggles to cope with variations in raw water quality, causing customers to receive drinking water that doesn’t always appear clear. The eight kilometres of water main being laid will connect Melness to the North Coast Regional Supply from Loch Calder in Caithness, where a modern treatment works produces reliable drinking water that looks good and tastes good all year round.
1.2 kilometres is being laid through the Kyle of Tongue causeway. A pumping station is also being installed to improve pressure.
INVESTING IN CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND
The Melness investment is part of Scottish Water’s 2010 Vision for the Highlands – a £200million programme of improvements throughout the region providing more reliable supplies of clearer, fresher drinking water, enabling development and protecting the environment.
