Glenfarg Treatment Works Investment
Glenfarg WTW and Reservoir
Important upgrades planned to the existing Water Treatment Works which play a vital role in supplying drinking water to around 179,000 customers across Kinross-shire and Fife
Project Overview
Scottish Water is preparing to invest in the future of Glenfarg Water Treatment Works. The project at the Water Treatment Works (WTW) at East Blair in 2025, is needed to secure a high quality and resilient water supply for around 179,000 customers that the WTW serves across Kinross-shire and Fife. The existing WTW was built in 1984 and is now in need of significant investment so that it can continue to serve the area for decades to come.
What will the work involve?
The proposed investment includes several elements which work together to improve the way drinking water is produced; and to provide greater security of supply for all of the communities that the site serves. Some of the proposed work would take place within and around the existing WTW buildings, including:
- Upgrade and replacement of key equipment and filters;
- A new filtered water pumping station.
The redevelopment of the historic filter beds near to the dam would include:
- A new Chlorine Contact Pipeline to improve the final crucial stage in the production of drinking water;
- Four new Clear Water Tanks to store drinking water before it leaves the site. The stored water could continue to supply all the communities that the site serves if the production of drinking water was interrupted. The tanks also mean that stable production of drinking water can continue over the course of daily variation in demand from customers.
A smaller piece of work has been delivered to improve the air curtain within the reservoir, which helps to maintain the quality of the ‘raw’ water entering the WTW during summer conditions
Why is additional water storage capacity needed at Glenfarg?
The WTW at Glenfarg plays a critical role in supplying a complex water network which spans Kinross-shire and Fife. Within the network, there are 39 local storage tanks, referred to as ‘Service Reservoirs’. These local tanks are typically located on high ground close to the communities that they serve - and their size varies to meet local needs. seeking to reflect that there is resilience built into the wider water network, both via local storage and interconnections/backfeeds.
A Clear Water Tank (CWT) is the source of drinking water from which all of the local tanks, both large and small, are supplied. This has to be located and sized so that it can maintain supply to all of the communities that the site serves if the normal production of drinking water is interrupted - for example due to a major technical fault or a pollution event.
Glenfarg Water Network
Here is a simplified overview of the water network supplied by Glenfarg WTW
Latest Update
The project enabling works commenced in early 2025 and has seen the completion of the upgrades to the access road from Church Brae to the Water Treatment Works.
The provision of a temporary haul road and bridge to the north of the River Farg has also been completed. Work is nearing completion on the permanent bridge across the River Farg and the site compound.
A family of beavers has been relocated within Scotland and a squirrel bridge erected to aid the protection of red squirrels in the area.
A school crossing patrol officer continues to be funded by the project.
In late 2025, a layby on the B996 was completed to help construction traffic in the village.
In 2026 there will be a focus on the major piling operation to enable the construction of the filtered water pumping station and the structure of the pumping station itself. There will also be major earthworks in the reservoir area to enable the construction of the clear water tanks.
B996 Layby
Work has been completed on a new layby on B996 to help with construction traffic through the village.
Community Engagement
We have an ongoing Community Liaison Group where councillors and community councillors are invited to Glenfarg WTW on a regular basis for an open discussion on the latest project developments.Members of the team are regularly available at the drop-in session at the Glenfarg Community Coffee Morning within Glenfarg Community Centre every third Thursday of the month between 10am and 11am.
In November 2025, the team held two sessions with the community to present the ecology and biodiversity plans for the project both during and after the construction phase.
