Scottish Water is well underway with the first wave of engineering projects in its major £500 million pound investment programme to tackle storm overflows.

Under its Improving Urban Waters programme, the publicly owned utility has already met a commitment to install 1000 monitors on its sewer network with the information available on a near real-time online map.

A programme of civil engineering projects is now getting into full swing to help improve water quality, reduce sewer-related debris and minimise spills from the sewer network through targeted infrastructure investments.

By December 2027, over 70 improvements will have been delivered benefitting watercourses across Scotland, with more in design for delivery beyond 2027.

Karen Dee, Scottish Water’s General Manager for Waste Water Services Strategy said:

“Scotland’s water quality is at its highest level for over 15 years with 87% of waterbodies rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition.

“We know our sewer network will continue to come under increasing pressure from the combination of climate change, loss of green space and people flushing inappropriate items down the toilet.

“That is why we have targeted this extra investment specifically in locations where every pound that is spent will deliver real benefits to communities and the environment.”

Scottish Water took a strategic approach to monitoring overflows rather than the blanket 100% coverage adopted in the rest of the UK. This allows a dedicated team to proactively focus investment on prevention of flooding and pollution incidents.

The water company said Scotland’s overall water quality reflects the success of this approach.

Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water has identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement for water quality or aesthetic – sewer related debris – reasons.

Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the investment helps prevent sewage related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.

One of the first civil engineering projects under the programme has already been completed with the installation of a new screened storm overflow near Lord Ancrum Woods in Midlothian.

Another four similar projects are underway in Stewarton in East Ayrshire which is part of a £16.5 million investment to alleviate flooding in the town.

The near real-time data is now easily available on the new interactive map Overflow Map providing information on when an overflow is operating and where recent activity has occurred.

Last year Scottish Water delivered on a commitment to install 1000 additional monitors, and is on target to install a further 700 this year.

Karen Dee continued:

“We are committed to enhancing our precious natural environment and are investing more than ever before in our waste water network, through increased monitoring and targeted improvement projects.

“We have taken a strategic approach to investment, which has focused on where best to spend customers money in a way that will improve the water environment, rather than investing in monitoring everything.”