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Castlegreen to Ardoch Pumping Scheme

This project entailed the construction of 3900m of 500mm diameter ductile iron pumping main including 500m river crossing using directional drilling. A section of the pipeline was also through the heavily contaminated site of a disused Coal Gasification Plant at Dumbarton.

Clyde Analytical were commissioned to undertake investigation works of the site and their Report and subsequent Risk Assessment indicated the presence of “a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds, many of which are volatile”.

The possibility of dusts in dry conditions was also perceived, perhaps containing Cyanide from the Coal gasification plant. Similarly toxic metals including arsenic and asbestos from lagging were anticipated.

Pipes were laid through this section of contaminated land and making use of specialist PPE and working practices (suits and showers) based on the Risk Assessments and fully documented in Method Statements. Other measures such as use of water spraying to dampen down dusts were used when appropriate. All contaminated material removed from site was transported by a licensed carrier to a licensed tip, including wheel washing of vehicles etc.

A shaft, 16m deep, was sunk within soils contaminated with ammonia. Specialist testing and Risk Assessment of the operation was undertaken and a suitable Method Statement to allow the works to proceed was devised. Concentrations of ammonia were >20ppm with levels of 35ppm anticipated during operations. The presence of ammonia gas encountered during the operations was an additional hazard encountered. The Method Statement included full Permits to Work, Enter, Dig and Hot Works Permits together with fully detailed work instructions for undertaking the operation.

Before works commenced, all workers were fully briefed on the required methods to be used, trained where required and issued with the necessary PPE and its use enforced rigorously. Other good practices, such as washing before eating, no smoking etc were included in our practices.

The contract was carried out on behalf of West of Scotland Water and came in on budget at £2.63M