Scottish Water is more than half way through what will be the biggest investment in the Greater Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure in more than a century.

Work is progressing across the area to convert the ageing infrastructure into a modern, integrated and sustainable drainage system that will improve the environment on the River Clyde and its tributaries and help tackle flooding and climate change.

As part of the £250 million, five-year upgrade, Scottish Water is investing more than £12m in a project which will tackle sewer flooding in the Elmvale Row area of Springburn.

Two massive storage tanks, each 25 metres (82 feet) in diameter and 18 metres (60 feet) deep, will provide 13,500 cubic metres of extra storm water storage in the local sewer network.

A number of properties in the Elmvale Row area have suffered from flooding over several years and we are pleased to be making good progress with a project which will substantially reduce the risk of this in the future.

Mr Brown said while visiting the project today: “I’m delighted to be here today and to see this project at Elmvale Row. This project is a key part of Scottish Water’s massive investment in the waste water network across Greater Glasgow to improve the water quality in the River Clyde and its tributaries and to address sewer flooding.

“I’m pleased that this project is progressing well and will provide much needed relief to those in this area who have been affected by regular floods in the past. It demonstrates Scottish Water’s commitment to tackling these problems and the Government’s support for this kind of investment to address flooding issues.”

A total of 34 properties in the Elmvale Row area have experienced recurring problems with flooding for a number of years, including flooding to garages, car parks and roadways.

The tanks, which are being installed in open ground adjacent to Elmvale Row, will provide storage in the combined sewer network to reduce the risk of flooding in storm conditions.

Pumps are being installed in the tanks to form a storm return system which will return the storm water stored in the tanks back into the sewer system once the storm conditions have abated. The project also includes the upsizing of about 400 metres of waste water pipes in Elmvale Row, Elmvale Street, Ratho Drive, Fernbank Street and Hawthorn Street. The project is expected to be completed late this year.

During the project so far, which is being carried out for Scottish Water by amey Black & Veatch (aBV), Scottish Water’s delivery partners, we have removed about 30,000 tonnes of rock, which was sent for recycling, and 14,000 tonnes of contaminated material, which was taken for treatment as opposed to landfill.

Commenting on Scottish Water’s overall investment in its waste water infrastructure across Greater Glasgow, Mr Geoff Aitkenhead, Scottish Water’s executive director of capital investment, said: “We’re making good progress with all of this investment in the Greater Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure, the biggest in living memory.

“The environment and communities throughout Greater Glasgow will benefit hugely from this because it will protect the natural environment and meet the needs of growth, economic development and regeneration for many years to come.”

Some major projects in Scottish Water’s investment have already been completed and the preparatory work for others is well under way.

Those under way include a £100m sewer tunnel called the Shieldhall Tunnel, which will improve water quality in the River Clyde and its tributaries and provide aesthetic screening to overflows into these watercourses. It will alleviate pressure on the existing network by providing additional storm water storage and will reduce the risk of flooding in parts of Mount Florida and Giffnock.