SCOTTISH WATER is to spend £250 million on flood alleviation and waste water improvements in the Glasgow area the largest investment of its kind in a century.
The five-year programme will transform the region’s ageing network into a modern and sustainable drainage system fit for the needs of 21st Century Glasgow, Scottish Water said.
The plan will see upgrades to about 200 outfall pipes safety valves used to control waste water during heavy rainfall on the River Clyde and its tributaries.
Improvements in the south-west of Glasgow will see excess surface water removed from areas with known “pinchpoints” which cause restrictions in the waste water system.
The investment follows years of study by the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership, which includes Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Glasgow City Council.
Geoff Aitkenhead, Scottish Water’s asset management director, said: “We are delighted to be starting this massive investment in the Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure which will transform the network and make it fit for the 21st Century, help protect the natural environment and meet the needs of growth and development.”
Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said: “This investment is essential to Glasgow’s economic prosperity. It will improve the environment and ensure that new customers can connect to this essential public service.
“This investment is another critical step on the path to ensure that Scottish Water provides one of the best value-for-money water and sewerage packages in the UK.”