Scottish Water has started work on a £8.6 million sewer upgrade project in Airdrie – preceded by a fish rescue operation to help protect local wildlife.
A total of 58 fish, including brown trout, minnow, stone loach and three spine stickleback, were safely rescued and relocated from a section of watercourse close to Craigens Road where the first phase of the Scottish Water Horizons project is currently underway.
Specialists from the Clyde River Foundation used electrofishing to systematically collect the fish before recording and safely relocating them downstream prior to work commencing, ensuring their protection.
The project, which is being delivered by Scottish Water’s commercial subsidiary Scottish Water Horizons and contractor Mackenzie Construction, will increase the wastewater network capacity in the area, reduce the risk of sewer flooding and support the future development of the new University Hospital Monklands at Wester Moffat.
More than 650 metres of new sewer storage pipework and associated manholes will be installed as part of the programme, with work scheduled at six locations in Airdrie, Coatbridge, Bargeddie and Uddingston.
John Kerr, Project Manager at Scottish Water Horizons, said:
"Protecting the environment is a key consideration throughout the delivery of this project and the fish rescue was a great example of that in action.
"Before work began, we worked closely with the Clyde River Foundation to ensure any fish and other aquatic wildlife within the affected area could be identified and safely relocated. The operation was incredibly successful and provided a fascinating insight into the variety of species living within the watercourse.
"This investment will deliver long-term benefits for local communities by increasing wastewater network capacity, reducing the risk of sewer flooding and supporting the development of important regional infrastructure, including the future University Hospital Monklands."
The project team has also carried out environmental surveys and mitigation measures across the wider programme to minimise impacts on local habitats while construction activities take place.
Four species of fish were identified by the Clyde River Foundation as part of the work.
Biologist Toby Miller, from the Clyde River Foundation, commented:
“We use a technique called electrofishing to carry out fish rescues where companies need to create a dry working area to carry out work near rivers and streams.
“It's a systematic removal method that's used all across the UK to survey and rescue fish populations from rivers, and it's absolutely harmless.
“I apply a small voltage through the water and my colleagues will net the fish into buckets - as the local rivers trust, it's good for us to collect data on these fish so we will measure and identify the species before returning them safely upstream or downstream."
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