Gorgie Road Edinburgh

page banner saying Draining the Rain which denotes this is an Improving Urban Waters project

project status complete

Project Overview

A major £3million Scottish Water investment designed to protect the Water of Leith in Saughton Park has been completed ahead of schedule.

This significant project involved constructing a new overflow chamber with a powered screen to reduce sewer related debris entering the watercourse during heavy rainfall events.

The work is part of our £500m Improving Urban Waters programme.

At a Glance

To prevent sewer related debris entering the Water of Leith
£3million investment
Delivered by Caledonia Water Alliance
Work started January 2026

A large crane is shown lowering the lid on the site of major construction works on a residential street

Engineering

The lid was lifted onto the storm overflow on Gorgie Road in June

What We Have Done

The new chamber has been built around the existing, Victorian-era storm overflow, incorporating an historic piece of infrastructure into a modern wastewater system, rather than removing it altogether.

As part of Scottish Water’s £500million Improving Urban Waters programme, this investment in Edinburgh’s wastewater system has been delivered to support cleaner rivers and a healthier local environment for people and wildlife.

Traffic management which was in place between Robb’s Loan and Hutchison Crossway for six months was removed a week earlier than planned and this busy junction has now been fully reopened.

An underground chamber is shown on a construction site

The chamber and screen were installed on the existing overflow

A concrete lid is shown on top of a large excavation within a construction site. A crane is visible in the background

The chamber is now under a cover

Why We Have Done It

Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement.

Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the Improving Urban Waters investment will help reduce spills and prevent sewage related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.

An aerial shot of Edinburgh, with a major construction project visible in the foreground

Protecting the Environment

The new screened storm overflow will help protect the nearby Water of Leith from sewer related debris entering the environment during heavy rain

Update July 2026

We are pleased to have delivered this multi-million pound investment which will benefit customers and the environment in the west of Edinburgh for years to come.

The new infrastructure, which we have been able to install around the critical, existing Victorian-era waste water sewer and storm overflow, has been designed help protect homes and businesses during heavy rain. This integrated design also enabled to reduce the duration of the construction phase of the project, which helped us minimise disruption for our customers.

The investment will significantly reduce debris entering the Water of Leith, supporting cleaner rivers and a healthier local environment for people and wildlife.

We are grateful for the cooperation of the community which has allowed us to carry out this work as safely and as quickly as we possibly could.

We are acutely aware that Gorgie Road is one of the key transport routes linking west Edinburgh with the city centre and that the road closure has caused disruption. The patience and understanding of everyone impacted is greatly appreciated.