STIRLINGSHIRE-based Tyndrum Wastewater Treatment Works has enhanced its process screening capacity by installing upgrades capable of handling more than triple its original volume.
The project, which took the site’s capacity from 3.2 litres per second up to a possible 10.6, has completed a reliability period and been handed over to client, Scottish Water.
Screening incoming wastewater flows is a critical part to the treatment process, as it removes items that would cause damage and blockages to downstream equipment.
The age of the plant and its location within a small village supported by summer seasonal tourism created challenges for WGM Engineering, which delivered a full design plus the civils, construction, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, and automation (MEICA) fit-out and commissioning of the upgraded plant. Following completion of site work, the facility went through extensive testing before achieving final sign off.
WGM Engineering project manager Scott Ross said, “The screening upgrade work at Tyndrum has been a very rewarding but challenging project to be involved with. This was due to the environment and time constraints that the project was delivered in. Throughout the work, the plant had to remain functional to continue serving the village, so temporary screenings and over-ground pumping were installed for the duration. Installation of these temporary screenings and the new upgraded screening faced unforeseen hurdles due to the age of the existing infrastructure on-site.
“Tyndrum WwTW was first built in 1981 and has gone through some smaller upgrades in the past. As a result, a number of uncharted services were discovered at critical locations of the planned construction works. This presented many challenges and saw our design be redrafted multiple times during the project. Compliance regulations meant we couldn’t simply remove these existing services or go around, under or over them. Any newly laid electrics or water pipes need to maintain specific distances from other buried services and from the surface, presenting a challenge for the design team.”
WGM used ground excavation techniques that do not break ground in traditional ways, avoiding the risk of hitting unknown cables or pipes. Vacuum excavators were used to reduce the need for mechanical digging.
Taking a retrofit install approach was a favoured solution because it enabled carbon and resource savings.
Scott added, “Our design team was tasked with and delivered a solution that increased the lifespan of existing assets, removing the need to demolish the current site and build a new treatment plant. WGM worked with surrounding landowners in the area and was able to reuse some of the construction materials to provide hardstanding areas, additional parking for local businesses and improved boundary fencing. We estimate a carbon saving of 10–11 tonnes of COâ‚‚ equivalent.”
Scottish Water project manager Robin Johnson said, “At Tyndrum WwTW, our collaboration with WGM Engineering delivered an efficient, low-carbon retrofit that kept the works online while more than doubling screening capacity. By working together to navigate legacy services and a tight seasonal window, we strengthened resilience, improved compliance with environmental consents and minimised disruption for customers, the local community and stakeholders. This upgrade future-proofs a critical stage of the treatment process and supports Scottish Water’s commitment to sustainability and value for money.”
