Scottish Water appoints two JVs for technical consultancy support

Two joint ventures – ARC and m2 – have been appointed by Scottish Water to offer technical consultancy support for latter’s 2015-2021 investment programme.

ARC consists of Atkins and RPS while m2 consists of MWH and Mott MacDonald.

This deal is worth £120m and will cover six years, which will be divided between the two ventures.

According to the terms, Scottish Water has the option to extend this deal to 2027.

As consultancy contractors, the two JVs will support Scottish Water and its construction partners in efficient delivery of construction and maintenance projects between 2016 and 2021.

Under the 2015-21 investment programme of Scottish Water, maintenance and improvements of existing assets will be taken up.

These assets include pipes, pumping stations and water treatment works.

The two JVs will offer technical consultancy support to local level in-house delivery team.

Local firms are carrying out around 70% of the investment of Scottish Water.

Scottish Water strategic customer service planning director Simon Parsons was quoted by Waterworld.com as saying: "The new investment programme will help support vital employment in the Scottish economy while enabling Scottish Water to build on the significant improvements made to water and waste water services in recent years.

"This will ensure our customers continue to receive fresh, clean drinking water, while at the same time benefiting from one of the best value water and waste water services in the UK."

MWH UK managing director Cath Schefer told the website: "This is an excellent opportunity for us to combine both companies’ comprehensive consultancy knowledge in the water sector. We’re looking forward to working collaboratively with all of the delivery partners to drive the best-in-class results for Scottish Water and its customers."