Three unique technical visit opportunities are available to Congress delegates at diverse locations demonstrating innovative approaches to sustainable water resource management within easy reach of the Congress venue. Booking is now open on a limited, first-come-first-served basis. Visits have also been scheduled to minimise time away from the core Congress programme.
Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works
Behind-the-scenes access will be granted by Congress principal supporter, Scottish Water, to Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works – a major installation processing 110 million m3 wastewater and sludge per year and serving a population equivalent of 850,000 – operated as a UK Government Private Finance Initiative scheme since March 1999.
Situated close to Edinburgh city centre on the edge of the Firth of Forth, Seafield has benefited from an ongoing investment programme. An initial major upgrade in 2000 provided secondary treatment, in compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and additional investment in 2010 further improved screenings removal, odour collection and treatment performance. More recently, a new thermal hydrolysis plant has been commissioned to produce a more eco-friendly sludge product and improve local community relations. Visitors will be given a comprehensive tour of the Seafield facility by operating staff allowing a detailed insight into performanceimprovements and providing answers to delegates’ questions.
There are two opportunities to make this visit: on Wednesday 27 May and Thursday 28 May. Both visits will depart the Congress venue, the EICC, at 08.30 and are anticipated to return at 13.30, in time for lunch.
Book the 27 May visit here.
Book the 28 May visit here.
Harlaw Hydro
Also available to Congress delegates is a visit to Harlaw Reservoir and its state-of-the-art micro hydroelectric scheme.
This area has long been the scene of innovative water-related energy generation. From its history powering mills during the Industrial Revolution, Edinburgh’s Water of Leith has played an integral role in city life. A micro-hydro system installed at Harlaw in the 1900s harnessed the new technology of energy generation from gravity and water, displacing fossil fuel generated electricity. For the 21st century, a modern micro hydroelectric scheme is currently being installed via a community-based scheme to utilise the outflow from Harlaw Reservoir and contribute to Scotland’s renewable energy targets. It is estimated the scheme will generate c260,000 kWh of ‘green’ electricity per year – enough for around 56 average homes – and saving 129 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The Harlaw Hydro visit will take place on Tuesday 26 May. The visit will depart from the EICC at 10.00 and return at 13.30 in time for lunch.
Book this visit here.
Eddleston Water Restoration Project
Completing these exciting options, will be a chance to visit the Eddleston Water restoration project – part of the River Tweed UNESCO HELP Basin – an innovative scheme measuring the costs and benefits of restoring ecosystems at a landscape scale. With detailed scientific monitoring of hydrology and ecology, and associated economic costings, the project takes a holistic approach to managing flood risk and improving the river habitats for wildlife and the local community by reinstating a natural watercourse.
Led by the established participative catchment organisation, Tweed Forum, this unique project brings together lead partners Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the University of Dundee to work with local residents and land managers to restore healthy functioning ecosystems and maintain sustainable livelihoods in the valley. Visitors will have access to the re-meandered river sites to view the impacts of hydro-morphological restoration, in conjunction with bankside and watershed tree planting, on flood flows and stream biodiversity.
This visit will take place on Thursday 28 May, departing from the EICC at 08.30 and returning at 13.30 in time for lunch.
Book the Eddleston Water visit here.
All three technical visit locations provide exclusive access opportunities to leading edge water management sites and are now available to book by registered delegates using the links above.
An offsite Special Session is also available, hosted by the University of Glasgow on Understanding and quantifying gas efflux from surface waters.
This special session focuses on understanding the role of surface waters as sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Quantifying and understanding dissolved greenhouse gas loads and efflux is vital to understand the important role surface waters play in mediating their environment. For example, this data could be required to fully estimate the carbon footprint of a water technology, or to understand responses to catchment management.
The University of Glasgow Carbon Landscape research groups have considerable expertise in making such measurements internationally and understanding the significance of this efflux. In a short workshop you will learn about the drivers and tracers of gas efflux from surface waters and the tools used to make measurements.
You can register for this Special Session by clicking here:
If you have not yet registered as a delegate at the Congress, please do so now by clicking here.
Please note advance security clearance procedures will apply to these visits – safety briefings and PPE will be provided.