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Construction of a new multi million pound water treatment works for Edinburgh got under last week with the start of construction of the new works at Glencorse, near Edinburgh. Commenting on the £130 million investment project, Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, said:
“The Glencorse works will incorporate all the best thinking in terms of reducing energy use, and the latest technology, while delivering higher quality water for Edinburgh and the surrounding area for many years to come.“
Richard Ackroyd, Chief Executive of Scottish Water, said:
“This is a massive investment and shows our commitment to providing the best solution for our customers in Edinburgh. As well as the new water treatment works, Scottish Water is investing in our underground pipe network in the capital with new robust trunk mains being installed as part of the ongoing tram work.
“We are also carrying out work at Marchbank Water Treatment Works. It is a whole programme of work for the capital which will bring benefits for years to come.”
The start of construction ended two years of investigations and has incorporated all the latest technology and modifications. The “green” investment at Glencorse includes lowering the new works four metres into the ground to ensure it blends into the landscape, ‘green’ roof technology which soaks up the surface water that falls on the roof space with rainwater storage in natural ponds, hydro electric turbines to produce two thirds of the electricity needed to work the plant and a reduction in the number of pumps needed, and electricity used as gravity is used to deliver water to large parts of the city.
Drinking water will continue to be supplied by the water treatment works at Alnwickhill and Fairmilehead until the new works is completed and on stream in early 2011.
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According to mixing specialists Chemineer, the pressure on the water industry to reduce spiralling energy costs could see a major switch to top-entry mixers, which are cutting bills by up to a staggering 85% compared to submersible mixers.
A recent study carried out by Whitehouse Scientific exposed an imported sieve mesh as falling far short of its claimed performance specifications.
