An innovative new environmental wetland project in Cowdenbeath by Scottish Water to treat wastewater is now completed and promises to be a boost for wildlife in the area.
Located to the south of Cowdenbeath Golf Course and shielded by a row of trees, the new wetland, constructed at a cost of £8.7million, will naturally treat storm waters from two separate overflow pipes and then pass the treated water into the Lochgelly Burn.
The wetland will also provide an ideal habitat for birds, insects and amphibians. In time the wetland will become a mini eco system and add to the diversity of wildlife in the area.
The project was designed and delivered by reed bed specialists ARM Reed Beds (ARM) in partnership with Barhale Construction.
Eddie Burns, Project Manager, Scottish Water, said:
“The sewer overflows at two locations - the Cowdenbeath storm water works near Cowdenbeath Golf Course, and Selkirk Avenue - needed to be upgraded so they could continue to comply with modern environmental specifications. We are committed to finding the best solution for the local environment, and diverting the sewer overflows to a natural waste water treatment system proved to be the preferred option.”
The solution consists of three separate projects. The first is to construct the wetland while another project involves the installation of a screen and a 1.2km transfer sewer. Scittish Water has also upgraded the pumping stations and storm tanks near the wetland which previously transferred the storm waters.
The new system will provide sufficient treatment to allow storm waters to flow back into the Lochgelly Burn without compromising water quality.
The project involved the construction of a specialised wetland and reed bed system that removes solids and forces oxygen into the waters, thus enabling it to reach a standard where it meets SEPA requirements for the flows to pass into the Lochgelly burn.
The wetland system can treat 230,000m3 a year - the waste water comes from around 11,000 customers in the Cowdenbeath area.
Eddie Burns continued:
“The result is a sustainable, low-carbon answer to a complex waste water management issue. The wetland is flexible in that we can alter how it treats the water depending on the flow, so in times of high flow the complex aeration system kicks in but otherwise it remains off and saves energy.”
“The system ARM has designed is both cost-effective and in-line with how we want to treat waste water in the future. Once complete, the wetland system will require little maintenance, saving costs year-on-year which will benefit everyone.”
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