The £3.5million project at the Gailes Pumping Station, which is due to start this week and is expected to be completed by about August 2012, will modernise and improve the operability and reliability of the facility, increase its capacity and help protect the local environment.
The pumping station, which was built in the early 1980s, serves about 200,000 people in the Ayr, Prestwick, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Galston, Newmilns and Darvel areas.
It pumps wastewater treated at Meadowhead Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) about 1.2 miles out to sea in the Firth of Clyde via twin long sea outfalls under licence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
The project will also augment Scottish Water’s multi-million pound scheme to deliver massive environmental benefits and improve water quality in the River Irvine and Kilmarnock Water, and the bathing waters of Irvine Bay - the pumping station’s increased capacity will allow it to cope with additional flows from the scheme.
MBV joint venture to deliver project
MBV, a joint venture between contractors Morrison Construction and Black & Veatch, is working on the £31m first phase of the scheme and installing a new storm water network between Irvine and Meadowhead WWTW.
The Gailes Pumping Station project will also improve the efficiency of the pumping station, which will help Scottish Water reduce the carbon footprint of the facility. Gary Caig, Scottish Water’s waste water assets manager, said:
“Scottish Water is delighted to be starting this major investment in the capital maintenance of a key facility in our waste water infrastructure in Ayrshire.
“Gailes Pumping Station plays a very important role in providing waste water services to customers across a wide area and this investment will ensure that it continues to provide a first-class service for many years to come.”
The project will involve the refurbishment of the six existing pumps and the installation of two additional pumps to increase the pumping station’s capacity. It will also include the installation of modern drive technology which controls the pumps and will reduce the pumping station’s carbon footprint.
Martin Evans, Scottish Water Solutions’ construction manager, said the investment would modernise the pumping station and should improve its operability for years to come.
The project is being carried out by contractors Clancy Docwra for Scottish Water Solutions, a joint venture partnership between Scottish Water and some of the world’s leading construction, engineering and water companies.
Paisley environmental project starts
Scottish Water is also about to start on an upgrade to its Ben Ledi Pumping Station. The £75,000 project, which is due to start on about August 29,will improve the environment on a burn and river in Paisley and enable Scottish Water to comply with the EU’s Freshwater Fish Directive in the White Cart Water.
The upgrade, which involves the construction of a new overflow chamber on the outflow pipe with screening and additional emergency storage, is being carried out by contractors Morrison Construction.
The Silvertown Tunnel’s pumping system is reducing the risk of flooding, delays and costly maintenance, while supporting the long-term resilience of London’s transport network, says Ian Ireland, large pumping projects programme manager, Xylem UK.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
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