The Seafield Operating Contract

Scottish Water let a 30 year contract for design, construction and operation of waste water sites in Edinburgh and the Almond Valley and for trunk sewers and storm attenuation sites in Esk Valley.

The contract was set up under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) as a means of delivering major capital investments without immediate recourse to public funding. The contract duration of 30 years is typical for PFIs.

Stirling Water won the contract for Seafield in 1998. Stirling Water is a joint venture between Thames Water Services, MWH, and M.J. Gleeson. On completion of the construction phase Thames Water were appointed as the operating contractor.

Upon the sale of Thames Water Services in November 2007 the operations contract transferred to Veolia Water.

Veolia Water is now both a member of the Stirling Water joint venture and the operating contractor.

Stirling Water has made an investment of more than £120m in the project and continues to provide funding for capital maintenance.

In addition to improving the process of waste water treatment, the waste water sites are required to meet European Waste Water Directive and The Water Environment Controlled Activities, Regulations effluent quality requirements.

The Seafield works effluent must also meet the bacterial standards related to European Bathing Water Quality.