Scottish Water has welcomed a group of curious Cardross nursery children to the site of their £1.6million flood prevention project in their local village.

The publicly owned utility, along with delivery partner Caledonia Water Alliance, invited the young learners to the site to provide them with the unique opportunity to see first-hand how important infrastructure is being constructed to protect their community.

The ongoing project in Cardross aims to address the recurring issue of internal and external sewer flooding in almost a dozen local properties, as well as Geilston Park and nearby tennis courts. The new screened Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) being constructed will safely divert excess rainwater if the sewer network becomes overwhelmed during extreme weather, significantly reducing the risk of sewer flooding.

During their visit, the nursery children were given a tour of the site, where they learned about the importance of stormwater management and the steps being taken to protect their village from sewer flooding. Their inquisitive minds were particularly fascinated by the large machinery and various other construction equipment, while getting a chance to sit and pose in the digger.

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Scottish Water's Alliance Team Manager, Steven Greenhill, said: "Our work in Cardross is a crucial step in addressing the issues of sewer flooding that has affected local homes and community spaces. The construction of the new CSO will significantly reduce the risk of sewer flooding by diverting excess stormwater, therefore better protecting the community.

"We appreciate the community's support during construction, and it was a pleasure to be able to share the project's value with the nursery children during their visit. It's rewarding to know that our work will benefit both current and future generations."

Early Years Practitioner, Wilma Birch, said "We were delighted to be approached by Scottish Water and Caledonia Water Alliance to learn more about their current work in our local park.

"The project team explained their work and helped introduce key health and safety messages to our pre-school children. We learned about the water and waste water systems and the importance of not flushing wipes and other items down the toilets.

"Outdoor learning is a key part of our curriculum, so we appreciated the walk to the park, incorporating vital road safety messages, and lessons on how to be safe around the construction site.

"The children (and staff!) were challenged to have a turn sitting in the digger, which we all enjoyed very much. We have already had positive feedback from parents and on social media, so many thanks to all involved."

Paul Milligan, Communication Manager for Caledonia Water Alliance, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the children to our site and their enthusiasm and curiosity was infectious. It is great to see the next generation taking an interest in such an important project.

"This is an essential project for Cardross, with the new CSO being a critical component in managing flows during peak rainfall and preventing sewer flooding into homes and the surrounding area."

This is part of Scottish Water's record investment in capital projects – over a billion pounds in the last financial year – to improve its infrastructure and address the increasing demand and impacts of climate change.