THE biggest investment for more than 100 years in Greater Glasgow’s waste water network has been unveiled by Scottish Water.
A £250m, five-year programme of work will continue to improve river water quality and the natural environment of the River Clyde. It will also alleviate sewer flooding and deal with the effects of increased rainfall and climate change.
The scheme is the first stage of a programme to upgrade the waste water infrastructure and further “significant” investment is being identified that could bring the total spend to £0.5 billion.
Scottish Water said the investment will transform an ageing network into “a modern, integrated and sustainable drainage system fit for the needs of 21st century Glasgow”.
Work will include upgrades to around 200 combined sewer overflows (CSOs) or outfall pipes on the River Clyde and tributaries such as the River Kelvin and White Cart Water at a cost of about £105m.
Waste water improvements costing around £100m in the south west of the city will remove excess surface water from areas with known ‘pinch points’ which cause restrictions in the system. Elsewhere, a number of projects will tackle flooding in various parts of the city at a cost of around £45m.
The investment follows years of collaboration and studies by a partnership made up of Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Glasgow City Council.
Speaking at the launch of the programme Geoff Aitkenhead, Scottish Water’s asset management director, said: “Scottish Water’s investment is only one part of the answer, although a major component, to the pressures on the drainage network to cope with the sheer volume of waste water and surface water run-off happening in today’s climate and the anticipated climate of the future.”
Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is also Scotland’s infrastructure secretary, described the scheme as another critical step on the path to ensure that Scottish Water provides one of the best value-for-money water and sewerage packages in the UK.” “This £250m is a first step in a much larger investment programme to improve Glasgow’s drainage and sewerage infrastructure.”
