Scottish Water upgrades Philipshill wastewater plant in Lanarkshire

Scotland-based water and sewerage services provider Scottish Water has completed a £2.3m upgrade on the Philipshill wastewater treatment plant in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The company has upgraded the Philipshill wastewater plant, which serves about 65,000 people, as part of its initiative to improve water and waste water infrastructure at North and South Lanarkshire.

The upgrade work, which will comply with the European Union (EU) regulations for urban wastewater treatment, is expected to protect the natural environment in the Kittoch Water and White Cart Water.

In addition, the project will ensure efficient and reliable water service to meet the growing demand and reduce maintenance cost of the plant.

Scottish Water project manager Gavin Noble said the project follows on from a major investment of £10m ($15.1m) a few years ago to transfer all the treated flows from Philipshill to the River Clyde.

"This removed the permanent discharge of waste water from the Kittoch Water and White Cart Water and instead placed them in the deeper and more turbulent waters of the Clyde where the dilution is much greater," Noble added.

The company is currently improving 24 wastewater plants across Lanarkshire to conserve the River Clyde and associated watercourses.

Scottish Water Corporate Relations head Alan Thomson said that rivers, streams and burns support wildlife and recreational activities for people in Lanarkshire.

"This programme ensures our wastewater treatment facilities continue to comply with European environmental directives," Thomson added.

"Scottish Water is committed to protecting Scotland’s natural environment and this essential work is part of the important maintenance and upgrades that ensure facilities like this are able to treat wastewater and return it safely to the environment.

"This work is part of our continuing improvements planned for the 2010-2015 investment period, which will see us investing a further £198m in Lanarkshire."

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Image: The treated water from Philipshill plant will be transferred to the River Clyde in Scotland. Photo: Courtesy of Dave Souza.