Real Life Eden Project Delivers Successful PR in Scotland for Water Giant

Scottish Water Blog

Scottish Water has completed the £10 million River Eden project.

The final stages of the environment-enhancing quartet were completed earlier this month by project delivery arm Scottish Water Solutions, the innovative joint venture partnership which includes some of the countries largest civil engineering companies.

Solutions has already delivered more than £1Billion worth of infrastructure and non infrastructure projects during this investment period.

The completion of investment at the waste water treatment works at Cupar and Springfield follows in the footsteps of Bowhouse and Guardbridge which were finished towards the end of last year.

Local MSP Iain Smith is particularly pleased that future generations will benefit from this significant investment and said: “I am delighted the River Eden project has now been completed. Having grown up near this beautiful river, I know how important it is to the communities that live along it. I’m thrilled that the cleaner water will enhance their enjoyment of it.

“I’m also very hopeful that the cleaner water will be more of a draw to salmon fishers and that they will bring increased investment to North East Fife when they come to fish in the area.”

The Eden, one of Scotland’s most significant salmon fishing rivers flows through Fife, from Burnside to Guardbridge, where it skirts the iconic north east coast before disappearing into the North Sea.

This important investment will benefit people living along the length of the Eden for many years to come, as Anne Marie Dewar, Scottish Water’s new Regional Communities Manager for Fife added: “More than 35,000 customers living in communities from Burnside to St Andrews will benefit directly from this significant £10 million improvement programme. It will enhance the natural environment of the Eden as it winds its way through Fife to the North Sea.

“The river is the life blood of many of these communities and that is why it was so important to us to work with them. Improving the natural environment of the Eden means that local people and visitors alike will continue to flock to its banks for many, many years to come.”

The Eden Anglers Association was among the local groups working with Scottish Water and construction partners Black & Veatch and Barhale.

Spokesman Ian Young said: “Our Association has been pleased to work with Scottish Water and its partners on the River Eden project. We look forward to working with them to maintain and enhance the quality of the River Eden and its environment.”

Scottish Water’s £10 million investment has included the following improvements to four local waste water treatment works (WWTW):

The £3.3 million project to upgrade Cupar WwTW was completed earlier this month. Contractors Black and Veatch have improved screening at the facility. Further investment has also been made to the aeration equipment, grit removal and mixers in the oxidation unit and in addition a new final settlement tank has been constructed. New state of the art controls have also been added as part of this year long upgrade.

As well as improving the River Eden environment, this project will also allow for significant growth in Cupar and the surrounding area. 

  • The two and a half million pounds upgrade of the Bowhouse WwTW was completed towards the end of 2008. The new inlet works, screening, pumps and balancing tanks are helping to improve the natural environment of the River Eden. The works serves around 7,800 customers in the Falkland, Newton of Falkland, Auchtermuchty, Ladybank, Giffordtown and Dunshalt areas.  
  • A new sludge balancing tank has been installed by Barhale at the Springfield WwTW as part of the £2.1 million improvement programme. The works, which serves around 8,000 people in the Springfield and Kingskettle areas, has also received new pumps and a storm water storage tank to better handle periods of heavy rainfall. 
  • The £2.3 million upgrade of the Guardbridge WwTW is perhaps among the most significant of the quartet. Completed in autumn 2008, contractors Black & Veatch have delivered new screened storm tanks, inlet screen, replacement aerators, sludge treatment drum and sludge day tank.

Hi tech new control units have also been added, along with a more powerful electrical unit to feed this significant upgrade to the works serving more than 5,000 customers in the Guardbridge and Leuchars area.

The Springfield WWTW was completed by leading civil engineering company Barhale. The construction firm’s Framework Manager, Alistair Smith, said:

“Barhale was delighted to play a part in this fantastic project delivering significant environmental benefits to the River Eden for future generations to enjoy. We have worked closely with the local community throughout this project and appreciate their patience and understanding while work was carried out. As one of the UK’s leading civil engineering contractors we work across the country, but we are particularly proud of our role in enhancing one its most scenic surroundings.”

The natural environment of the Eden will be significantly improved with the completion of this significant £10 million investment. The River Eden Project will help to further protect this important habitat for generations to come.

Scottish Water Regional Manager, Derek Ogilvie said: “Scottish Water is investing significantly across Fife. More than £67 million is being delivered to improve the kingdom’s natural environment and provide clearer, fresher drinking water to our customers’ taps.

“This will benefit not only families across Fife, but the thousands of people moving to the region to improve their quality of life. Investing to improve the iconic salmon waters of the Eden will also help to attract visitors to the area, benefiting the important tourism trade. This is an investment which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of Fife now, and in the future.”

Customers can keep up to date and comment on the work by visiting our special website, www.scottishwater.co.uk/fife2010.    

 Holyrood PR, public relations in Edinburgh provides additional PR in Scotland for Scottish Water.

 The Scottish Water Press Office can be contacted on 01383 848 236