Overview
Scottish Water required a system capable of reducing spill volumes from a combined sewer overflow (CSO), as frequent discharges were impacting receiving water quality and posing ecological and environmental risks. The conventional approach, to construct storage tanks into existing infrastructure, was considered too costly in both capital and carbon, and typically involves lengthy design and implementation timescales.
Instead, a multi-gate CENTAUR® solution was developed to enhance the existing network, maintaining its function as a conveyance system while creating dynamic in-sewer storage. The system was implemented, delivering immediate and measurable benefits to Scottish Water by significantly reducing spill volumes and, in some instances, eliminating spills entirely.
The Client
Scottish Water is responsible for providing water and wastewater services to households and businesses across Scotland. The company is committed to improving water quality and protecting the environment while investing in innovative, sustainable solutions that deliver long-term value.
Its Improving Urban Waters Routemap, published in 2021, set out a clear commitment to further investment, enhanced monitoring across more locations, and proactive measures to prevent pollution incidents before they occur – helping to build resilience and safeguard Scotland’s water environment for future generations.
The Challenge
Network modelling identified significant storage capacity in the upstream system – a valuable opportunity to optimise performance without major construction.
The site presented a number of challenges: the catchment was steep, with large-diameter upstream pipework and a long weir at the overflow, making flow control complex. This gave an opportunity to demonstrate the multi-gate CENTAUR® system’s flexibility to deal with complex catchments or scenarios.
Scottish Water also needed a solution that could dynamically manage the network and achieve measurable spill volume reductions in line with Scottish and EU environmental drivers focused on total spill volumes rather than spill frequency.
The Solution
CENTAUR® is an award-winning flow control system that leverages Artificial Intelligence to optimise flow and storage. It involves the rapid deployment of AI controlled gates to enhance the performance of existing network infrastructure, reducing the frequency, duration and volume of storm overflow spills to receiving water bodies.
Due to the steep gradient in Kirkcaldy, two gates were positioned in series. The upstream gate monitored and responded to the depth of water at the downstream gate, ensuring coordinated operation and protection of the target CSO.
By regulating flows dynamically, CENTAUR® mobilised the upstream storage, effectively creating equivalent storage within the existing infrastructure. This intelligent control minimised spills and improved overall system resilience – all without excavation and the carbon footprint of new storage construction.
Client Benefits
The system delivered immediate and measurable benefits:
- Spill elimination and reduction since commissioning CENTAUR® eliminated one spill entirely and reduced the volume of two subsequent spills by 26% and 7%, respectively.
- Sustained long-term performance: Modelling over a 10-year time-series rainfall dataset (using real rainfall data in ICM Live) showed an average 14% reduction in spill volume, equating to 8,560 m³ of water retained in the system rather than being discharged.
- Cost and carbon savings: The minimally invasive installation avoided the expense and embodied carbon of traditional storage construction.
- Live visibility and control: Integration with ICM Live enabled continuous performance monitoring and optimisation.
- This project marked a major milestone in meeting the CSO spill reduction challenge, the multi-gate CENTAUR® systems demonstrated flexibility in complex catchments and its ability to deliver measurable environmental impact.
Client Testimonial
The Cura Terrae Water team was highly professional, knowledgeable, and responsive throughout the project. The multi-gate CENTAUR® system has delivered exactly what it promised – reducing spill volumes and improving network performance. The Single or Multiple Dynamic Gate options opens up an alternative way in reducing CSO spills and will likely be a real game-changer for us in managing CSO spills effectively.
Bob Fleming
