Inspiring future engineers on the Island of Benbecula

As part of our ongoing work to replace over 11km of water mains on the remote island of Benbecula, Morrison Water Services, as part of the Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA), was thrilled to engage with young people on the Island and inspire the next generation of engineers and water guardians.

In November, a team from CWA visited two primary schools, Balivanich Primary (Sgoil Bhaile a’Mhanaich) on Benbecula and Iochdar Primary School (Sgoil an Iochdair) on South Uist. The visit aimed to educate pupils about the importance of water and the project’s role in their community.

CWA’s Communication Manager, Paul Milligan, led the presentations, explaining to the students where their water comes from, how it is treated, and how it reaches their homes and schools. The pupils were given an overview of the ambitious pipe replacement project and learned how it will provide a more reliable water supply for their community in the years to come.

Paul Milligan shared his enthusiasm about the visits: “It was a delight to visit the two schools on such a beautiful part of the Outer Hebrides. We showed the students where their water comes from, how it is treated and gets to their school and how it will benefit their community for the future. We also showed an overview of the water cycle and had good discussions on how to save water and what not to flush down their toilet.”

The sessions sparked lively discussions, with students eager to learn about water conservation and ways they could help protect their local water supply.

Lochdar Primary School pupil, Max, from class GL7, remarked: “It was interesting learning about the water and how important it is for everyone.”

CWA also donated environmentally friendly water bottles made from ocean-bound plastic, along with pencils and rulers, to the students. These practical gifts served as reminders of the project’s focus on sustainability and the importance of preserving resources for the future.

CWA’s Site Agent, Iain MacNeil, also highlighted the significance of engaging with the community’s younger generation: “Our final part of the work is progressing well, and we are currently concluding this important project. We hope the children enjoyed finding out more about their water supply.”

Local school visits provide a vital opportunity to teach the next generation about how infrastructure projects contribute to everyday life and inspire future generations to value and protect essential resources.

About the Caledonia Water Alliance

Caledonia Water (CWA) is a joint venture alliance between Morrison Water Services and Aecom, supporting the delivery of Scottish Water’s SR21 Capital Investment Programme. We are responsible for the delivery of a £700 million water and wastewater infrastructure programme across Scotland, over a six-year alliance framework.

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