Aberdeen

Scottish Water refurbishes the Pitfodels Distribution Service Reservoir in Aberdeen, United Kingdom; extends service life and potable-water compliance saw_Pitfodels Distribution Service Reservoir Sika@Work Structural Strengthening, Concrete Repair & Protection Structural Repair and Strengthening Pitfodels Distribution Service Reservoir, ­Aberdeen, United Kingdom Project description Pitfodels Distribution Service Reservoir (DSR), located in Aberdeen, is an important part of Scottish Water’s drinking water distribution network. Originally constructed in the 1930s, the reinforced concrete reservoir was taken out of service after inspections identified water ingress and significant deterioration of the roof structure. Rather than replacing the ageing asset, Scottish Water chose to refurbish and strengthen the existing reservoir, providing a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. Covering approximately 3,000 m² with a depth of 8 metres, the reser- voir is comparable in size to two football pitches. Following refurbish- ment, the structure was upgraded to meet the stringent requirements for potable water storage, extending its service life while restoring an essential part of the region’s drinking water infrastructure. Project requirements The refurbishment presented significant structural and operational challenges. Initial inspections identified water ingress through the roof structure. Once the reservoir had been drained, detailed investigations revealed substantially greater deterioration than originally anticipated, requiring extensive structural repairs and strengthening beyond the initial scope. The project was further complicated by the absence of as-built docu- mentation, requiring engineering decisions to be made following de- tailed on-site investigations. Working inside an 8-metre-deep confined space also imposed strict health and safety requirements, including specialist confined-space procedures and emergency rescue planning. A further challenge was the continuously damp environment. Since several strengthening systems require dry substrates to achieve opti- mum performance, the reservoir had to be carefully dehumidified before repair and strengthening works could begin. Finally, all repair materials had to comply with the stringent hygiene requirements applicable to structures used for drinking water storage, ensuring long-term durability without compromising water quality. The cost-effective repair and refurbishment of a mothballed reservoir to bring it back into service proves a sustainable, economic alternative to a costly new build replacement. Pitfodels Distribution Service Reservoir Aberdeen, United Kingdom ...