Katrine Water Project
The New Milngavie Water Treatment Works - The Facts Leaflet
Further to submitting the second planning application in November 2002, Scottish Water issued 500,000 copies of "The Facts Leaflet" to support public understanding of the project. The contents are listed below:
Why does Scottish Water need to improve the water supply?
What is Scottish Water doing about this?
How did we arrive at the chosen site?
How was the right water treatment process chosen?
What effect will the proposals have on access to the Reservoirs?
How can I make my support known?
Do I receive water from Milngavie Reservoirs?
The Katrine Water Project is the largest water treatment investment programme in Scotland and has an estimated value of £100 million.
Scottish Water, Scotland's public water authority, is working in partnership with engineering and environmental consultants and contractors to supply the best value solution for the new treatment works required for 700,000 of our customers who are supplied with drinking water from Loch Katrine.
The project will help ensure water quality for customers which meets statutory standards and is due for completion in December 2005. Back to contents
Why does Scottish Water need to improve the water supply?
Loch Katrine, which feeds the Milngavie Reservoirs, has efficiently supplied our customers in Glasgow and neighbouring areas with drinking water for more that 140 years. However, there is now a need to upgrade the treatment of water to meet UK and European quality standards, in particular for micro-organisms (bacteria and cryptosporidium parasites) and disinfectant by-products. Back to contents
What is Scottish Water doing about this?
Scottish water has given an undertaking to the Scottish Executive to meet the required standards by December 2005. Early in 2000, a team of engineering and environmental experts, lead by Scottish Water, started working on a project to develop a water treatment solution for the 700,000 customers supplied by Loch Katrine. Back to contents
How did we arrive at the chosen site?
From the outset Scottish Water appreciated that developing the new works within this highly sensitive area would require very careful consideration.
We set in motion the largest research and development project ever undertaken in the Scottish water industry. The process involved more than 100 experts from 25 different disciplines. More than 100,000 hours were spent examining the engineering, environmental and financial issues. 17 potential development areas were included. Since the middle of 2000, Scottish Water and our consultants actively sought the views of statutory and non-statutory consultees, and the community at large.
A wide range of issues was considered when making the final selection, including impact on people, impact on heritage and amenity, energy consumption, connection tot he existing water supply infrastructure and access roads.
The option at Milngavie Reservoirs was the one that provided the best balance of all the issues considered.
How was the right water treatment process chosen?
The selection of the most suitable water treatment system involved a detailed appraisal of options, taking into account the required water treatment parameters, the volume of water required to supply Greater Glasgow every day, and the results of the year long pilot plant trials carried out at Milngavie. Coagulation and filtration was selected as the most suitable process. The internationally renowned Water Research Centre, an independent research organisation, carried out an assessment of the suitability of this process and concluded that it was the most appropriate for the Katrine Water Project. Back to contents
In November 2001 a planning application was submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council for the construction of a treatment facility at Barrachan within Milngavie Reservoirs and associated service reservoir at Bankell Farm, east of the A81 Strathblane Road. Due to concerns that the scale of the development would reduce the amenity at the reservoirs, the application was refused in August 2002. Back to contents
In early October 2002, Scottish Water appealed to the Scottish Executive against the decision by East Dunbartonshire Council.
At the same time Scottish Water began to prepare a new planning application for the same site based on a revised design, which takes the opportunity to address concerns raised during the planning process, which could not be incorporated while the planners were still considering the initial application.
Some of these improvements include:
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A 15 - 20% reduction of the size of the treatment works building, and a lowering of the roof.
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The introduction of an alternative water disinfection process which removes the need for chlorine gas storage.
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Disposal of waste products to sewer rather than a landfill which removes the need for on-site sludge treatment facilities and will mean a reduction in long term traffic numbers.
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Further analysis of the water treatment process which means the size of the service reservoir could be reduced.
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The reduced scale of the plant will allow additional landscaping to further blend the works with the existing sites.
In order to maintain the amenity of the existing reservoirs, a great deal of effort has been put into reducing the long-term impacts of our proposals. For Example,
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large parts of the buildings/structures will be buried or partially buried to minimise noise and visual impacts.
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the selected site provides a high degree of existing screening by both trees and embankments
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the works will not be visible form any of the walks around Mugdock Reservoir and will only be partially visible, through a screen of trees, from short lengths of the Craigmaddie Reservoir footpaths
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the proposed landscaping will be in keeping with the existing setting
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natural stone will be utilised for the majority of the treatment building
What effect will the proposals have on access to the Reservoirs?
The important heritage and amenity value of the Milngavie Reservoirs is recognised by Scottish Water and from the outset protection of this has been a core principle for the project team. The circular walks around the reservoirs will be unaffected, except for temporary closure of short stretches during the construction of pipelines, and the amenity value of this area will continue to be enjoyed by visitors. Back to contents
Scottish water is committed to enhancing the amenity of the Milngavie Reservoirs for future generations. After Glasgow's water supply is protected by the new treatment plant, relaxation of current restrictions on access and recreation at the reservoirs may be possible.
Plans are in place to consult with local and national interest groups to ascertain the most appropriate future use of the existing amenities once the new works are operational. Back to contents
How can I make my support known?
This is a public need project promoted by your public water supplier. By consultation, consideration and design, we have made great efforts to ensure that the effect of the new works on the environment, cultural heritage and people of East Dunbartonshire is kept to an absolute minimum.
The revised planning application will be submitted in mid-November 2002 to East Dunbartonshire Council. At the same time details will be available on our web-site for your information.
Once the application is submitted you can make representation on these revised proposals by writing to:
The Head of Partnership and Planning,
East Dunbartonshire Council,
The Triangle,
Kirkintilloch Road
Bishipbriggs,
East Dunbartonshire,
G64 2TR
or by emailing:
partnershipandplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Do I receive water from Milngavie Reservoirs?
Whilst the majority of the customers supplied from the Milngavie reservoirs live in Glasgow, the following areas in East and West Dunbartonshire also receive their water from this Source: