A partnership between Scottish Water and Moray Council could spark major investment in a new sewage system for Forres.
Councillors were asked to agree proposals that they issue a letter of intent to progress a study into the scheme with Scottish Water by the end of this year.
Members of the economic development and infrastructure services committee heard that Scottish Water had identified fifteen areas in Scotland where it proposed to undertake an ‘integrated catchment study’ over the next six years.
One of the areas prioritised by the water authority is Forres and would include the entire sewer catchment area taking in the town and neighbouring Kinloss and Findhorn.
Councillors were asked to agree an expected 19% share in the £187,000 funding requirement for the study.
In a report to the committee Councillor’s were told: “Scottish Water will create a programme to undertake each of the fifteen studies over the next six years. There are insufficient industry resources to undertake them simultaneously.
“The criteria for prioritising studies is not yet known but availability and quality of data along with enthusiasm of the local authority for the study are likely to be important.”
While some committee members questioned the priority areas in Moray and sought to seek more urgency for other areas in the region, Forres councillor George Alexander successfully argued that any action that might delay the Forres study should be avoided.
The committee agreed that the Council’s share of the funding would be sourced from the future flood risk management revenue budget and the report referred to the next meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.