Scottish Water has completed the first phase of a major £10 million-plus sewer upgrade project - more than a kilometre of temporary pipeline has been dismantled and removed with the newly relined rising main once again carrying pressurised waste water for treatment.

Nearly a kilometre of pipe running beneath King’s Inch Road between Renfrew and Glasgow has been relined, effectively creating a new pipe inside the old.

Scottish Water Alliance Manager Robert Archer said:

“This section had been the worst affected by bursts over recent years.

“The anxiety, upset and disruption these caused were among the driving factors behind our decision to accelerate a major capital project at an unprecedented pace, and I am delighted we have delivered the first phase by Christmas.

Beginning in February 2024, engineers set up a temporary overland pipeline to carry pressurised

flows of waste water while the existing underground pipe was relined.

The temporary pipe has now been removed and will be reused for the second phase of the project, relining the rising main between Ferry Road and the pumping station at the end of North Lodge Road in Renfrew.

Once again, the pipe will be relined through access pits dug at strategic points along the route. The work is due to start in January 2025 and last for approximately 10 months.

Robert Archer added:

“Scottish Water continues to invest huge amounts of customers’ money - £2.7 billion over the past ten years – to repair and replace assets while addressing increasing demand and climate change.

“Our work would be significantly harder were it not for the support and co-operation of the communities we serve.

“I would like to thank customers and stakeholders for their patience and understanding so far and look forward to working with them again as we deliver the remainder of this much needed project.”

The project is being managed and delivered by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance and their specialist contractor Environmental Techniques.