Scottish Water has awarded a framework contract for reservoir inspection, supervision & engineering services worth an estimated £8 million.

Under the Reservoirs Act (1975) Scottish Water is required to inspect around 300 reservoirs - unless there are specific circumstances to reduce this, this generally means an inspection at least once every 10 years. The utility currently supervises more reservoirs than required under the current act - the numbers will be subject to change as the new Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011 is brought into force.

The outcome of these inspections will be reports containing recommendations on any physical work and/or investigations required, as well as recommendations on improvements or enhancements that the water company should make to their current monitoring supervision regime for that particular site.

Scottish Water is looking to the frameworks to promote behaviours which encourage innovation to be brought forward and expects that the consultancy community will be at the head of this industry, and be aware of technical advances.

Five companies were in the bidding for a place on the framework - Fairhurst, Atkins, Aecom Ltd, Mott Macdonald and Grontmij have all been awarded contracts.