Scottish Water
Lochgoilhead WwTW
Lochgoilhead WwTW - Courtesy of WGMB
Scottish Water is a public sector body, classified as a public corporation of a trading nature, answerable to the Scottish Parliament through Scottish Ministers. We are publicly owned, commercially run and independently regulated. This ownership model allows any surplus generated to be reinvested in the provision of services to our customers. Our purpose is to support a flourishing and resilient Scotland through being trusted to care for the water on which we all depend. We supply water and waste water services to households and are also the wholesaler to 22 Licensed Providers who operate in the water and waste water retail market for business customers in Scotland. Using Scotland’s natural resources, our assets and the skills of our people, we are committed to improving our services for customers and communities while protecting and enhancing Scotland’s environment.
WGM
WGM is a Scotland-based engineering business established in 1986. It joined the RSK Group in October 2022. Currently, they are a team of more than 450 people providing end-to-end mechanical, electrical and civil engineering services, supported by a technical design team. These services are aligned with strategically located off-site manufacturing facilities that offer a turnkey solution to clients across the UK.
Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead is a village on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute. It is located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, an area recognized for its scenic landscapes in Scotland. The village is surrounded by several Corbetts in the Arrochar Alps, including Benn Donich, The Brack, and Cnoc Coinnich. The local waterways include the River Goil and the Donich Water.
The village has a population of about 400, with around a third of the houses being holiday rental properties or second homes. A large holiday village, Drimsynie Estate Holiday Village and a National Activity Centre for the Scouting Association can double the population of Lochgoilhead in high season.
The area also has diverse wildlife; red squirrels, pine martens, otters, red deer, and badgers are common, along with seals and porpoises in the loch, and eagles and buzzards in the hills.
Site banner – Courtesy of Scottish Water
Project scope
The project involved improving the existing wastewater treatment process by installing new SAF units and humus tanks, constructing a new sand filter and sand filter buffer tank, new drainage and manholes and installing a new control kiosk. Staircases, handrails, pipe supports, and buffer tank supports were fabricated in house at WGM’s Off-site engineering facility in central Scotland.
Off-site manufacture enhanced programme efficiency, reducing time on site and working in a controlled off-site environment has additional environmental and health and safety benefits.
Additionally, the site improvements included creating a new access track with hard standing, installing new lighting, and erecting new fencing, and decommissioning of the old plant.
Engagement
During the preliminary phase before construction commenced, an entry and exit strategy for the site was formulated through early consultations with stakeholders. This process identified all community members and stakeholders affected, resulting in a traffic management plan developed in collaboration with residents. The aim was to maintain continuous access while minimising disruptions caused by construction activities within the community.
The Scottish Water and WGM joint project communication team organised a community open day to share details about the upcoming works, allowed for engaging with the locals, and addressed any issues or needs they might have had.
Prior to starting on-site work, they distributed informational letters to all the stakeholders affected, which included direct contacts for any project-related inquiries.
During the project Scottish Water and WGM, hosted a fun and educational day that included a Health & Safety talk and hands-on STEM activities at Lochgoilhead Primary School. The sessions sparked curiosity and enthusiasm among the students, introducing them to real-world engineering challenges and the vital work being done in their community. We hope this experience not only highlighted the importance of safety and innovation but also encouraged some future engineers and scientists among the pupils.
Primary school kids visit to site – Courtesy of Scottish Water
Benefits
Scottish Water is a public sector body answerable to the Scottish Parliament through Scottish Ministers and our principal activities are the supply of water and waste water services to around 5.4 million customers in homes and businesses across Scotland covering an area of 30,810 square miles. Our vision is to be trusted to care for the water on which Scotland depends. Reflecting that, our customers expect us to provide excellent customer service by delivering high levels of water quality and environmental performance, all for an affordable price. Using Scotland’s natural resources and the skills of our people, Scottish Water is committed to improving our services for customers and communities while protecting and enhancing the environment of Scotland.
The new Lochgoilhead WwTW is designed to improve the stability and resilience of the local waste water network while replacing ageing infrastructure with modern, efficient equipment. This project is important to Scottish Water as it continue to build the trust and confidence of our customers and communities across Scotland through maintaining and investing in our assets.
Conclusion
With this new WwTW, Scottish Water has improved its ability to maintain the stability of the waste water treatment process and reinforce the resilience of the local waste water network.
(left) The project team at the local primary school and (right) the new wastewater treatment works – Courtesy of WGMB
