Clatto works provide clearer, fresher water to the people of Dundee
212,000 people in Dundee and parts of Angus and Perthshire will be benefiting from clearer, fresher water as a result of investment in the water treatment works at Clatto, near Dundee.
£4,795,000 is being invested in the works to create a superior treatment process with less waste and to improve the appearance and taste of the water supply, ensuring that future generations have world-class water straight from the tap. Work started on the refurbishment on the 31st of March 2008 and is due to be completed in May 2009.
The refurbishment of Clatto water treatment works is the final link in a programme of upgrading the whole system – recently there has been in excess of £16million spent on the securing and improving the water supply to the area, including a new underground reservoir.
In 2003 a 27km water main that runs from the Loch of Lintrathen to Clatto treatment works was officially switched on by Shona Robison MSP. Costing £14million, it replaced the two old mains that dated back to the 1870s and 1950s.
John Letford, Lord Provost for City of Dundee, said: "The foresight and imagination of the city fathers in the 19th century created one of the cleanest and healthiest water supplies to any city in the country at the time that the Clatto Reservoir was built.
"Scottish Water is carrying on that tradition of far-sightedness with its current work at the Clatto Treatment Works."
Andrew McLaren, Project Manager, explains: “With this project, we’ll be refining the treatment process to reduce waste and increase efficiency. The treatment process used at Clatto involves filtering the raw water through sand filter beds. After each filter has been used to remove impurities, the sand is washed and the dirty water is then discharged into the waste water network.
“To make the filtration process more effective, each of the filter beds will be refurbished to improve their performance. To add additional efficiency, we will install a new settlement system to greatly reduce discharges to the waste water network.”
Clatto reservoir sits on the periphery of Clatto country park and was constructed in 1874 as a balancing tank in the event of problems with the supply from Loch of Lintrathen reservoir. It is still linked to the treatment works as an emergency supply. The city is now served by the reservoirs at Loch of Lintrathen and Backwater.
Between 2007 and 2009, Scottish Water is investing £122million in the Tayside region, as part of a £2.4billion programme of capital investment that will upgrade Scotland’s Victorian water infrastructure to give the country fresher clearer water, a reliable water network and an enhanced environment.
This steady programme of research, maintenance, upgrading and provision for new property developments will ensure that there is a reliable and safe supply of clear, fresh water to the people of Tayside for generations to come.
The project is being managed by Scottish Water Solutions - the joint venture partnership of utility companies and contractors set up by Scottish Water to help transform the country's water and wastewater infrastructure.
