Marine pipeline near Fort George complete as part of work to meet demand of growing communities between Nairn and Inverness
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Scottish Water has completed work to extend the marine outfall pipeline from Ardersier Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), east of Fort George.
The new, longer outfall extends 300m into the Moray Firth, enabling the treated effluent from the WWTW to be discharged into deeper, faster flowing water where it will disperse swiftly.
It represents the latest milestone in a programme of investment to meet the needs of growing communities between Nairn and Inverness.
In 2017, ultra-violet (UV) treatment was added to the WWTW to improve the quality of the treated waste water before it is discharged.
The outfall has been delivered by Scottish Water’s alliance partner amey-Black & Vetch (aBV) who engaged specialist contractor ABCO Marine to help deliver the five-month project.
Located around 1km east of Fort George within land that is owned by the Ministry of Defence, installation of the new pipe required excavation of a 300m long trench on the seabed. A long reach excavator was used, operating from a specialised jack up barge, to prepare the trench and lower the new pipeline into position.
Scottish Water corporate affairs manager Gavin Steel said: “The completion of the outfall extension is another important milestone for Scottish Water’s continuing work to support growing communities and economic development between Inverness and Nairn.
“We continue to work actively with the community in Ardersier to ensure the impact of our current construction work is well managed and that there is a positive legacy from our work for local residents, as well as for the wider area.”
Another of Scottish Water’s alliance partners, Efficient Service Delivery (ESD), is continuing to work on the remaining element of investment at Ardersier to increase the treatment capacity of the WWTW, which is due to be completed next year.
