Scotland's newest green wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in Winchburgh has been honoured with a prestigious sustainability award from The Royal Academy of Engineering.

The £35 million facility, owned and operated by Scottish Water and officially opened in October 2024, is designed to support a projected fourfold increase in Winchburgh's population.

Scottish Water, its delivery partner ESD (a joint venture between Binnies, MWH Treatment, and Galliford Try), Haskoning, and its UK licence partner EPS have collectively received the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Major Project Award for Sustainability. Individual medal winners include Colin Maybury and Jonny Tyler of Scottish Water, Stephen Fraser (ESD), Andrew Dyne (Haskoning), and Alan Ford (EPS). The recipients will be presented with their medals at a ceremony in London in July.

A key feature of the new site is its Nereda® treatment technology, developed by Haskoning and provided via UK licence partner EPS. This innovative system significantly reduces energy usage by up to 50% compared to traditional alternatives, while maintaining an excellent standard of treatment to safeguard the local environment.

The Nereda® technology, based on aerobic granular biomass, allows multiple stages of the wastewater treatment process to occur within three individual tanks operating in sequence. This efficiency enables faster treatment with fewer chemicals, requires a smaller site footprint, and boasts a much-reduced carbon footprint.

-- Advertisement --

Winchburgh marks the second site in Scotland to implement this low-carbon technology, following a pioneering project in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, which involved the same supply chain partners. Early collaboration during the design phase of the West Lothian facility, coupled with lessons learned from the Inverurie project, led to further substantial carbon savings. These were achieved through the use of low-carbon stainless steel for the main tanks instead of concrete, reduced excavation requirements, and increased use of off-site fabrication. Additionally, solar generation panels have been installed on the control building's roof to meet a significant portion of the site’s energy needs, and EV chargers are in place to support the electrification of Scottish Water’s vehicle fleet.

Joanne Kay, GM Wastewater Operations at Scottish Water, expressed her delight: "Winchburgh Waste Water Treatment Works has been designed to support customers in one of the country’s fastest-growing communities, and I’m thrilled that the close collaborative work with our partners has been recognised through this prestigious sustainability award. Delivery of Winchburgh WWTW reflected a significant step forward for sustainability, driving down carbon emissions in construction without compromising on quality."

Peter Walsh, COO of ESD, shared this sentiment: "Along with our partners Haskoning and EPS, ESD is absolutely delighted to have won this year’s RAE sustainability award. The new Winchburgh wastewater treatment works is a great step forward for the environmentally sensitive treatment of wastewater. This project sets a clear benchmark for other similar projects planned for the future."

Andrew Dyne, Contracts Manager at Haskoning, added: "This award is a testament to what can be achieved through true collaboration and a shared commitment to sustainability. At Haskoning, we’re proud to see our Nereda® technology once again delivering real-world impact—supporting Scottish Water and the people of Winchburgh with a future-proof, low-carbon solution that sets a new standard for wastewater treatment in the UK."

Shaun Stevens, UK General Manager at EPS, highlighted the collaborative effort: "The scheme was a true exemplar of collaboration between all of the key stakeholders, from the remote design-phase partnership during the Covid pandemic, through to the deployment of innovative technology and a cutting-edge off-site delivery methodology. It sets a clear standard and provides a working template for future project delivery."