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Scottish Water's 2010 vision for Fife has been given another boost with a £9.8m Angling on the River Edeninvestment that will bring a cleaner environment and enhanced water quality to the River Eden.
Scottish Water has four waste water treatment facilities near the river that are being refurbished or upgraded as part of their £62m investment programme across Fife. The Eden flows from Burnside, near the border with Perth & Kinross, across the Howe of Fife, through Cupar to Guardbridge, where it enters the North Sea via the Eden Estuary, an important conservation area for wading birds and a nature reserve.
The Eden Angling Association says that the increase in water quality will have a beneficial effect on fishing in the area. Ian Young, Secretary of the Eden Angling Association, said: "Our association welcomes this major investment by Scottish Water. We have been providing trout and salmon fishing to the public for nearly one hundred years. The Eden Angling Association is concerned not only with the excellent fishing the Eden provides, but also the conservation of the wide variety of wildlife that depend on the river for their habitat.
“Without clean water, the ecosystem of the river would be in jeopardy. We are sure this investment will enhance the quality of the water that is discharged into the Eden."
These projects are being managed by Scottish Water Solutions - the joint venture partnership of utility companies and contractors set up by Scottish Water to help transform the country's water and wastewater infrastructure. The work at Bowhouse, Guardbridge and Cupar will be undertaken by Black & Veatch, and the Springfield upgrade will be conducted by Barhale.
Scottish Water is working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to ensure the environment is enhanced. Steve Mason, Project Manager for Scottish Water Solutions said: "We are working with SEPA to ensure that an acceptable level of water quality in the river is maintained. The upgrades start at Bowhouse, situated in the wide, flat, agricultural area of the Howe of Fife. The next upgrades are at Springfield and Cupar in the middle reaches of the river. The final site is Guardbridge at the tidal reaches of the Eden estuary where it meets the North Sea in St Andrews Bay."
(GK/JM)
