£3.2 million Shapinsay water link complete

Shapinsay is now benefiting from an improved water supply thanks to a new connection to the Orkney mainland.

Scottish Water has completed a £3.2 million project linking the island to the Mainland through a new pipe under the seabed. This pipeline passes below a busy shipping lane and at around 2km is believed to be one of the longest subsea water supply pipelines to be constructed in the UK.

Completion of the project this week will help meet higher demand for water on Shapinsay during the summer months, when extra resources have had to be brought on the island in the past by ferry to bolster supplies.