Scottish Water is progressing work on Combined Sewers Overflows (CSOs) and sewer network upgrades around the Water of Leith to improve urban waters in Edinburgh,
As part of its ongoing investment across the capital, the works, which due to start in 2024, are designed to help improve the water quality of the Water of Leith, one of Edinburgh's most iconic rivers.
The Water of Leith outfalls have been identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as requiring improvements to help protect the environment. The outfalls are overflow pipes that discharge excess storm water into the river during heavy rainfall, to prevent flooding homes and businesses.
The upgrades require the installation of mechanical screens on the overflow pipes, designed to prevent objects greater than 6mm (such as wipes and sanitary products) overflowing into the Water of Leith during storm events.
To install the screens, Scottish Water will have to construct new underground chambers and pipework. At some locations, there is also a requirement for small kiosks to house the electrical controls panel. Scottish Water also needs to abandon existing unsuitable outfalls.
Before the main works can start in early 2024, Scottish Water will start work on site investigations next week which last for approximately three weeks. The work will involve drilling boreholes and trial pits to assess the ground conditions, check the existing infrastructure and identify other utilities.
Scott Fraser, Corporate Affairs Manager at Scottish Water, said:
“The Water of Leith, Edinburgh’s hidden natural asset, is a vital watercourse and this work is being carried out to improve the water quality and environment in the area.
“This investment continues to build on the great progress made in previous years where we have upgraded 14 CSOs in the upper reaches of the river in Balerno and Colinton.”
The works are part of Scottish Water’s plan to upgrade another 24 CSOs along the Water of Leith in addition to those which have already been upgraded. Many of these assets are in hard to access, urban areas and the design of these solutions will need to take account of their location as well as looking to minimise carbon costs as part of Scottish Water’s Net Zero drive.
The projects are being delivered by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance and are expected to be completed by 2025.
Sulzer has launched a new global Center of Excellence (CoE) for Water Treatment Solutions - the CoE consolidates Sulzer’s wastewater treatment expertise in a unified and global manner.
“SAS (Surplus Activated Sludge) is a bit weird and 
Owen Mace has taken over as Director of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) Plastic Pipes Group on the retirement of Caroline Ayres. He was previously Standards and Technical Manager for the group.
PureTec Separations, the Ledbury-based water treatment engineering firm, has appointed Dan Norman as its new Sales Manager – Water Process Systems, supporting the company’s continued growth in the UK and international markets.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.