A new water treatment works in Scotland has won praise from engineers and environment campaigners.
At the opening of Scottish Water’s Glencorse WTW Stan Blackley, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Not only will these works supply Edinburgh’s citizens with clean drinking water in an energy efficient, gravity-fed way, but the works will also be more than energy sufficient through electricity generated by an on-site hydro electric scheme. These factors, along with the sensitive and eco-friendly design and landscaping of the works, make them a very welcome addition to the city of Edinburgh’s infrastructure.”
That view was echoed by Sara Thiam, regional director of the Institution of Civil Engineers. “Water is more than just a commodity. It underpins Scotland’s key economic, social and environmental objectives. Renewable energy generation is something that the water industry can utilise and it’s encouraging to see sustainability at the heart of this project.”
The facility is ‘hidden’ under Scotland’s largest grass roof to help it blend into the neighbouring Pentland Hills. And in what is believed to be a world first, a mobile pipeline production plant was installed on the route of the nine-mile pipeline transferring water by gravity into the capital. An on-site hydro turbine provides a third of the facility’s energy needs.
