Scottish Water flood works in Cardross are approved

Scottish Water’s planning application for a ‘combined sewer overflow’ chamber on a site off Church Avenue in the village, along with associated pipework and manholes, was approved by the local authority last week.

Cardross Community Council, along with one local resident, had raised fears that the project would increase the risk of untreated sewage being discharged into the adjacent Geilston Burn.

In response to those concerns, Scottish Water said: “CSOs are an essential part of the sewer network as they help to reduce the risk of properties and streets being flooded during storm events when the pipes are full or when issues occur on the network.

“The water which is discharged from them during intense rainstorms is very dilute. It consists mainly of run-off from roads and roofs, and grey water from household appliances, with less than 1 per cent coming from waste water from toilets.

“Therefore it is incorrect to describe this as untreated sewage.

“CSOs are licensed by SEPA to spill under certain conditions, and Scottish Water works hard to comply with these licences.”

The existing access path off Church Avenue will be widened to three metres as part of the work, which will also include a dropped kerb for a length of 11 metres along the south side of Church Avenue, in addition to a vehicle gate and pedestrian gate.

A council official’s report on the handling of the application stated: “It is understood that flooding is being caused by nearby surcharging manholes on the main sewer line due to incapacity in the system, resulting in internal, external and highway flooding in the area.

“While there would be potential for impacts on water quality in the Burn and downstream, these would be within acceptable parameters in light of the overarching statutory and licensing regime under the relevant regulatory frameworks of environmental licensing.”