Scottish Water submits new licence application for Gairloch Waste Water Treatment Works

Scottish Water has submitted a new application to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to amend its discharge licence at Gairloch Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW).In April last year, Scottish Water withdrew a previous application to allow further discussion to take place via a Stakeholder Group, in order to build a shared understanding of the issues and identify an acceptable way forward.Following completion of an independent technical review of the technology currently in place at Gairloch WWTW and the options for the future, it was agreed with the Stakeholder Group in August that Scottish Water should proceed with installing a new treatment process made up of septic tanks, disc filters and ultra-violet (UV) treatment.Scottish Water agreed that it will operate the new treatment process throughout the year for an initial 2 year pilot period, with the exception of an agreed period in the second winter when it will provide treatment without UV. Year-round water quality sampling over this period will allow both Scottish Water and other stakeholders to understand the relative environmental benefit of providing additional treatment outwith the designated bathing water season. At the end of the pilot period, Scottish Water will work with the Stakeholder Group to agree long term operating arrangements based on the evidence obtained.