Site Investigations in Ayrshire Progressing

What we're doing

Site investigation work by Scottish Water in Ayrshire, for one of the biggest projects of its kind ever undertaken in Scotland, is progressing well.

The schemewill provide environmental benefits and help us to meet stringent EC directives and bathing water standards.

The level of investment will be detailed once planning options have been agreed and finalised, but Scottish Water confirmed earlier this year that the scheme will improve the quality of the bathing waters and natural environment of Irvine Bay, the River Irvine and the Kilmarnock Water.

Amount invested

Currently £1.5 million for the site investigation

Partners

Barhale is the principal contractor on the site investigation and the work is being carried out by Raeburn Geothermal, a Scottish Water framework contractor. The team includes consulting designers from MBC, MWH, Halcrow, Atkins and drillers and laboratory technicians from Barhale and Raeburn.  Subject to acceptance by the environmental and financial regulators, work is hoped to start within your area next year.

Start date

Investigations started in June 2008

End date

Work is subject to environmental and financial regulators, so the end date is yet to be confirmed

Area Affected

The areas which will benefit from the investment will include Irvine, Kilmarnock, Saltcoats, Troon, Barassie and Hurlford.

One of the most visible features of the investigative work is the 14 rigs which are being used to drill more than 230 boreholes across the area.

The 6m (20ft) high rigs, which have been used in areas such as town centres, public parks and farmland, drill down to an average depth of 15m, sometimes to more than 50m, to extract a sample of the ground material, such as soil, rock and coal.  This will allow us to establish ground conditions