Scottish Water has completed a project to improve the natural environment of two rivers in Paisley and the River Clyde.

The £750,000 investment involved the installation of extra capacity in the water company's waste water infrastructure.

This will help to reduce the risk of discharges of waster water in storm conditions to the Hawkhead Burn, which flows into the White Cart Water and the Clyde.

Contractor George Leslie carried out the work on behalf of Scottish Water.

The civil engineering contractor installed 520 metres of new sewer in the Rowan Street area to increase capacity and reduce the risk of a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) in the street discharging to the watercourse.

The project began in June 2014 and is part of Scottish Water's major investment in the Greater Glasgow area's waste water infrastructure.

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Overall, the £250m five-year investment is the biggest in the Greater Glasgow area's waster water network in over a century.

It will improve river water quality and the natural environment of the Clyde and its tributaries, enable the area to grow and develop, alleviate sewer flooding and deal with the effects of increased rainfall and climate change.

The new 600mm diameter sewer in Rowan Street, Paisley was installed from its junction with Thrushcraig Crescent to its junction with Lochfield Drive.

The increased capacity was required to reduce the risk of storm discharges and will contribute to an improvement in the water quality in the watercourses.

The work required some road traffic management and there were lane closures on sections of Rowan Street at different times during the project.

In addition, sections of the new sewer are over six metres deep. Large construction plant, including wheel-mounted excavators and rock breakers, were used on the project.

Scottish Water added the project took longer than predicted due to the type of which had to be excavated.

Mrs Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water's regional communities team manager, said: "We are delighted to have completed this very important environmental improvement project in Paisley.

"Scottish Water's investment in the area will deliver major environmental benefits for years to come and we are sure that local residents will welcome the completion of the project."

(LM)