Private Water Supply Project in Milton of Cushnie
Project Overview
Scottish Water, in collaboration with the Scottish Government's Private Water Supplies project, is working to address water scarcity issues in Milton of Cushnie and the surrounding area.
The proposed project aims to extend the public water main, providing households with the opportunity to connect to a reliable and sustainable source of drinking water. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve the resilience of communities historically reliant on private water supplies.
The project is being delivered by our commercial subsidiary, Scottish Water Horizons.
At A Glance
- Working in collaboration with the Scottish Government
- Builds resilience of private water supply communities
- Subject to sufficient community uptake
- Delivered by Scottish Water Horizons
Map of proposed water main extension route in Milton of Cushnie
**Please note, this is not a finalised design and is subject to change**
What To Expect
Representatives from Scottish Water and the Scottish Government have now hosted three in person community events at the Leochel Cushnie Public Hall, along with an online event. We have also completed door to door engagement and phone calls to local residents, which will continue until the end of the year to encourage interest in the project.
It is important to note the project funding is only available for this financial year, and the project will only be able to proceed if there is sufficient formal commitment from residents in the local area to make a connection.
There are two elements to the project funding:
- Water impact assessments: A technical study to determine whether existing public networks have enough capacity to accommodate the demands of new customers and the costs associated with extending the public water main.
- Public water mains extension: Installation of new pipework in the public water network to allow communities to connect.
Project funding does not cover the supply and installation of private pipework (including the water supply pipe) for households, or any internal fittings or pumps if they are required. Any domestic charges for the connection to the public network must also be met by households.
Further information, including information on project funding, can be found in the below Resource List.
Project Update - September 2025
We now have a high-level design of the proposed water main. Our next round of engagement sessions will be taking place in Leochel Cushnie Hall on Tuesday 30th September and Wednesday 1st October 2025.
Members of our Connections team will be available for 1-2-1 appointments to provide more specific information about the connections process to residents who have completed initial connection applications. One hour slots will be available between 1pm and 6pm each day.
Given the recent water scarcity issues throughout the area, there will also be a general information session planned for anyone interested in the pilot to learn more. This will be held in Leochel Cushnie hall on Wednesday 1st October from 7:30pm until 8:30pm.
A revised timeline has been created, following on from previous delays to the design of the project. The new approximate timescales are:
- Connection Commitment – October/November 2025: Interested residents should have the technical information required to obtain accurate quotes for the private pipework required. Once quotes have been received and residents are happy to proceed, they should make payment for infrastructure and inspection charges.
- Project Decision – December 2025: Once all commitment from interested residents has been collated to identify if the project is financially viable, a decision will be made either proceed with the project and explore start dates or cancel the proposal.
If you would like further information about the project, please email privatewatersupplies@scottishwater.co.uk.
