Low carbon concrete at centre of Glasgow sewer upgrades

Low carbon concrete at centre of Glasgow sewer upgrades

Innovative materials, methods and equipment have been at the centre of a multi-million-pound project by Scottish Water to tackle sewer flooding in Giffnock, Glasgow.

Over 1,000 tonnes of low carbon concrete was used to construct a 13-metre deep storm water tank and overspill chamber.

Other environmentally friendly measures taken included the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as fuel, huge electric batteries instead of generators and recycled aggregates.



Georgina Reid, Scottish Water’s corporate affairs regional manager for the west, said: “We are committed to delivering net zero emissions by 2040 and beyond and every project we undertake is a step towards achieving that aim.

“The carbon saving in Braidholm Road is the equivalent of 220 return flights from Paris to New York and important lessons have been learned that we can apply elsewhere.”

The new offline underground storage tank has been installed beneath the grassed open space on the south side of Braidholm Road next to the junction with Whitton Drive and Graffham Avenue.

It will provide extra capacity for storm water storage during extreme weather events, alleviating pressure on the waste water network which has also been upgraded. The excess water will be pumped back into the network when capacity allows.



Residents in Braidholm Road also faced up to a year of restricted access to their properties and construction work on their doorstep.

Scottish Water and delivery agent George Leslie Ltd are to host a public drop-in event to say thank you to the local community.

This will be held next Wednesday 19 July 2023 at Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians (GHA) Rugby Football Club between 4pm and 7pm.

Ms Reid added: “It will be an opportunity for the community to feed back to us about what has worked well and where we can perhaps look to improve.



“We could not have achieved the delivery of such a large and complex engineering project if it wasn’t for the patience and co-operation of residents and road users and we are extremely grateful to them.

“I hope as many people as possible can come along to this event so that we can thank them in person.”

Reinstatement and landscaping works are expected to be completed by the autumn.


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