The appointment extends the current relationship with ARC as it continues to support the development and delivery of Scottish Water’s investment programmes and works across Scotland for the next three years, with the option to extend for a further three years.

ARC will provide a wide range of consultancy services to Scottish Water including asset performance management, integrated catchment management, network modelling and digital design enablement.

The joint venture partnership will play a vital role in supporting Scottish Water’s objective of ensuring all its customers can enjoy the benefits of continuous high quality drinking water through greater service resilience, and that wastewater is collected and safely returned to the environment.

In addition, ARC will be providing expert technical support for carbon reduction measures, a key step towards achieving the net zero commitments within Scottish Water’s strategy.

Paul Aitken, CEO for UK and Netherlands at RPS, said: “We’re delighted to be extending this agreement with Scottish Water. As the impacts of climate change increase the challenge in clean and wastewater delivery, so the sector needs to be adapting with pace, to new agile data-driven solutions.

“Alongside this, the long-term maintenance of assets to support delivery will be of greater importance to ensure value for customers. ARC JV is committed to bringing its leading minds to support Scottish Water improve the communities and environment of Scotland.”

Richard Whale, global water market director for Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, added: “This is a very welcome opportunity to continue our joint venture with RPS, and provide strategic consultancy and technical expertise to Scottish Water.”

“Together we will support Scottish Water and their supply chain, maintain essential customer services and make the important transition to deliver on our shared Carbon Net Zero commitments.”

Both Atkins and RPS have a long established working relationship with Scottish Water going back to 2006 with the partnership providing a far ranging set of complementary skills and expertise, as well as resource based in Scotland that is committed to delivering for Scottish Water.