Commisioning Update - March 2011

The commissioning phase of the project is now well under-way with the main civil works, mechanical and electrical installations complete and the mains power supply connected. The majority of pipelines that have been laid around the perimeter of the buildings have now passed pressure test and been flushed with water. The concrete tanks have been tested for water tightness so there is now a route for water to flow through to the main treatment process. All the channels and tanks have been flushed to remove construction dust to ensure there is no unnecessary debris being carried through the works.

The filter media, made up of sand and anthracite, has arrived on site and been loaded into the CoCoDAFF cells.To read more about the innovative CoCoDAFF treatment process click here . Currently, dozens of pumps within the water treatment works are being tested at their designed maximum and minimum flow rates. The emphasis is now on testing each item of equipment in turn, systematically checking that each process unit is functioning correctly and then testing each piece of equipment in automatic mode.

For example, the backwash processes were first tested individually and are now operating in automatic mode. The backwash process ensures that the filter media in the CoCoDAFFs is kept thoroughly clean by using combined water and air to wash the filters at regular intervals. The backwash process has been tested without water and then with water to ensure all the equipment works together in the correct sequence. When the new Water Treatment Works is completed, the processes will be fully automated with the Operators carrying out regular water quality checks and only intervening if problems arise.

A small amount of untreated water from Scottish Water’s reservoirs is being utilised to test the filters and put the new plant through its paces. In this stage of commissioning, no chemicals are being used in the Water Treatment Works so the filtered raw water is passed on to the local burn as a temporary measure.

The completion of onsite and off site pipelines will allow a complete flow path from the new Glencorse Water Treatment Works (WTW) to the inlet of the existing Fairmilehead WTW. This flow route will be utilised to pass water that has been filtered at Glencorse WTW on to Fairmilehead WTW where the remaining water treatment processes will occur temporarily. Achievement of this milestone will allow progression onto the next stage which involves increasing the volume of water being filtered and then the introduction of chemistry at Glencorse. The water treatment process requires minute doses of chemicals like chlorine to be added to the water supply in order to make the water safe to drink and comply with strict European guidelines. The final stage will be to take Fairmilehead and Alnwickhill WTWs ‘off-line’ and have the full water treatment process carried out at Glencorse WTW.

Commissioning the Water Treatment Works requires careful management to ensure all site personnel and visitors are kept safe. The Commissioning team are now in charge of all the equipment onsite. Permit systems are used for accessing different areas particularly where there is water flowing, electricity or confined spaces. All the treatment works activities are managed by a Commissioning Manager and his team of commissioning engineers. Communication between parties is achieved by using a dedicated channel on the site wide radio system.

Water Treatment Works Update - March 2011

Activities within the Inlet and Treatment buildings have reflected the changing trades and professions now needed as we establish the commissioning phase of the project. No longer are we tying steel reinforcement and pouring concrete, instead many miles of cables and numerous valves, pumps and control systems are being placed and tested by electricians and system control experts. The hydro turbine, which will generate one third of the power required to run the Works, has recently been installed.

The Clear Water Tank, with its impressive 490 internal columns, has been completed and both sections have undergone water tightness tests. The tank will store treated water before it commences the journey to Edinburgh

Pipeline Route Update - October 2010

During August we successfully completed pipe-jacking operations under the City of Edinburgh Bypass. This work was carried out with no disruption to the thousands of motorists who travel this arterial road everyday – exactly as intended!

The majority of the pipeline has been laid up to the south of the City Bypass and the work towards the tail end of the year will be focused on completing the pipeline from the Bypass to Alnwickhill Water Treatment Works.

As with our previous work, our pipelaying activities will be carried out within the narrow working corridor in rural areas, and there will be very little disruption to traffic and neighbours as work continues.

Click here to visit our dedicated Pipelines Page.