SCOTTISH WATER yesterday said that its 2010 vision for Fife has been given another boost with a £9.8 million investment that will bring a cleaner environment and enhanced water quality to the River Eden.

The company said that four waste water treatment facilities near the river are being refurbished or upgraded as part of their £62 million investment programme across Fife, and the move has been welcomed by local fishermen.

The Eden flows from Burnside, near the border with Perth and Kinross, across the Howe of Fife, through Cupar to Guardbridge, where it enters the North Sea via the important conservation area and nature reserve at the Eden Estuary.

A group of anglers and Scottish Water representatives gathered at picturesque Dairsie Bridge, and Ian Young, the secretary of the Eden Angling Association, welcomed the major investment.

“We have been providing trout and salmon fishing to the public for nearly 100 years. The Eden Angling Association is concerned not only with the excellent fishing the Eden provides, but also the conservation of the wide variety of wildlife that depend on the river for their habitat.

“Without clean water, the ecosystem of the river would be in jeopardy.

“We are sure this investment will enhance the quality of the water that is discharged into the Eden,” he said.

These projects are 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.

Steve Mason, the project manager for Scottish Water Solutions, said work at Bowhouse, Guardbridge and Cupar will be undertaken by Black & Veatch, and the Springfield upgrade will be conducted by Barhale.

He said that at Bowhouse the investment would be £2.3 million, and that the works, which serve 7800 people from Auchtermuchty, Falkland, Ladybank, Giffordtown and Dunshalt, would have a new tank and machinery.

At the next stop down the river, Springfield, £2.1 million is to be spent on a facility which processes the village’s waste water and a large amount of agricultural and industrial effluent.

The work includes new tanks for separation and settlement of waste and pumping technology that will keep filter beds wet in dry weather, a storm tank to store excess water in heavy rainfall, and an odour improvement plan.

The Cupar waste water treatment works will see £3.2 million spent on enhanced screening and grit removal, and an upgrade will allow 1500 more properties to connect to the waste water network.

In addition a new sludge treatment centre at the works will process the by-product into fuel, fertiliser or soil improver.

Finally, at Guardbridge work on a £2.5 million scheme is now nearing completion and there are already “noticeable improvements” in the quality of water being discharged into the Eden.

Early in the project, Black & Veatch recognised an opportunity to work in conjunction with the local community and Fife Ranger Service to regenerate a nature garden at the works boundary, on the banks of the Eden estuary, and this will be used by the primary school.

Scottish Water regional manager Derek Ogilvie said that £25.5 million had been invested in Fife in 2007/08 and this would climb to £36.5 million in 2008/09 as more projects get under way.

“This steady programme of research, maintenance, upgrading and provision for new developments will ensure that there is a reliable and safe supply of clear, fresh water for generations to come—as well as doing our bit to guarantee a cleaner environment,” he said.