Scottish Water is getting ready to start work next month on a major £3 million project to protect an iconic Edinburgh watercourse from rags, wet wipes and other sewer related debris.
From 8 June 2025, Scottish Water will be working on the A8 Corstorphine Road in Murrayfield, upgrading a storm overflow that protects homes and businesses from flooding.
Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ over 70 improvements will have been delivered by the end of 2027 benefitting watercourses across Scotland. More are in design for delivery beyond 2027.
The infrastructure programme is being carried out by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance.
Senior Project Manager at Scottish Water Ethan Gillies Denning said:
“Sewer related debris in the Water of Leith has been a recurring problem after spells of heavy rain.
“The outfall is designed to divert excess rainwater into the watercourse, but unfortunately it isn’t screened.
“While less than one per cent of the waste water comes from toilets, if people have flushed wipes or plastic items, they can end up in the natural environment which is a real problem.
“This project will help to prevent anything larger than 6mm making it out of the sewer network and into the river.”
The A8 Corstorphine Road will be reduced to one lane under two-way traffic lights between Ormidale Terrace and Murrayfield Gardens for approximately six months.
This is to allow new screens and spill chambers to be installed to the existing outfall which is located under the road surface.
Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme is a £500 million package of additional investment to improve water quality through increased monitoring and reporting, and targeted infrastructure projects to significantly reducing sewer-related debris and spills.
Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water has identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement.
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