Critical Wastewater Infrastructure Recovery

This project centred on a high-profile wastewater asset that is critical to a local sewer network serving 50,000 people. As one of the deepest pumping stations in Scotland – descending 28 metres – the facility faced a significant operational risk during the peak of winter. A damaged pump had compromised the station’s operational capacity, leaving the surrounding area vulnerable to flooding during storm events.

The site presented a complex logistical landscape, including:

• Extreme Depth: A 28m deep well requiring high-risk High-Risk confined space entry.
• Environmental Factors: A coastal location subject to harsh winter weather and high winds, complicating crane operations.
• Technical Risks: Handling high-value components while utilising traditional engineering methods combined with rope access entry and working at height protocols.

TEXO was appointed as Principal Contractor to lead the project due to our team’s wide-ranging sector expertise and previous success managing this critical asset.  TEXO managed all CDM activities, sub-contractor selections and site management of all individual work scopes.

To restore the station’s integrity, the team committed to 16 days of continuous working, executing:

• Safety Leadership: Deployment of a dedicated rope access and emergency rescue team to manage the risks associated with the extreme depth and confined space.
• Isolating the well: this was necessary to allow for safe engineering staff and cleaning operatives access
• Specialist Surveying: A detailed, hands-on profile survey of the sump area. This allowed specialist suppliers to design bespoke attachments aimed at improving hydraulic flow within the pump inlet.
• Pump Replacement: Efficient removal of the damaged unit and installation of a new pump to restore full capacity before winter storms could impact the town.

The project was delivered safely and successfully within the 16-day window, ensuring the station was fully prepared for storm conditions. The technical survey provided a roadmap for long-term hydraulic improvements, while the immediate installation protected the local community from the risk of flooding.

“The rope access engineers and emergency rescue team were excellent throughout and demonstrated a very high standard of safety… Their professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining rigorous controls were evident at every stage of this high‑risk CAT 1 confined space entry.”

— Project Stakeholder