'We want answers on water risks'
MORE THAN 70 people packed into Yarrowfeus Hall for a public meeting to discuss flooding concerns in the valley and, particularly, to question to high water levels maintained at Megget Reservoir, writes Andrew Keddie.
Chaired and organised by Selkirkshire councillor Vicky Davidson, the meeting was prompted by the floods of last November when the reservoir, controlled by Scottish Water, overflowed, exacerbating high river flows which swept away the bridge at Henderland Farm, between Megget and St Mary’s Loch.
With 3.5 inches of rain falling between November 19 and 20, around 20 other properties on the Yarrow Water, downstream of St Mary’s Loch, were inundated, including the Yarrow Fish Farm and the Gordon Arms Hotel.
Another bridge, at Ladhope near Yarrowfeus, was also washed away. Thankfully, Selkirk was spared serious damage.
Henderland farmer Jim Mitchell, as reported last month, believes the incident could have been avoided if the reservoir, which supplies Edinburgh with drinking water, was maintained at a lower water level.
At the meeting Dougie Scott, Scottish Water’s asset planner, explained that the company controlled the levels at both Megget and St Mary’s Loch and that the former worked on a gravity system, with no pumping required. Thus, the bigger the head of water, the better the flow to the capital.
The waters at St Mary’s Loch were held at a raised level as a back-up should levels in the reservoir drop too low.
He said a second phase of the Megget scheme was to install pumping equipment to take water back up from the loch to the reservoir to provide extra supply in dry summers.
Although this had never been installed, it could be rolled out as a temporary measure.
Scottish Borders Council’s flood-protection programme manager David Green suggested one element of the Selkirk prevention scheme could be to explore the use of upstream storage by creating spare capacity at St Mary’s Loch.
Scottish Water agreed to look at this option, but stressed that studies would be required to assess its overall impact.
Ms Davidson told The Wee Paper: “The high attendance and the well-argued comments from the floor showed the level of concern there is about this issue and the general consensus that lowering the level in St Mary’s Loch would have a number of benefits, not least reducing the flood risk downstream.
“There was some bemusement at the stance taken by Scottish Water and a united call for them to speed up their deliberations on water levels, as those downstream continue to be at risk of a repeat event.
“However, I am hopeful that we will be the first part of the country to reach agreement with Scottish Water on capacity levels and flood risk management and I’m pleased that discussions are continuing in a positive direction.”
Scottish Water regional communities manager Bill Elliot said: “Scottish Water plays a small but significant role in the wider flooding debate. SBC is taking the lead in the flooding issues affecting the Yarrow Valley. Consultants working on behalf of the authority are currently carrying out a study in the area, which we support.
“The event in November was as a result of extreme weather conditions. Scottish Water empathises with customers, and has engaged with the community on the issue of flooding. We will therefore consider this matter thoroughly. Reservoir levels are monitored on a regular basis.
“Scottish Water operates the Megget Reservoir and St Mary’s Loch in compliance with our controlled activity regulation licence, as issued and regulated by SEPA. A sensitive balance is required in maintaining security of supply from the Megget Reservoir at all times and reducing the potential for flooding. We welcome SBC’s guidance on this matter and will work with them once their study has been concluded.”
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Weather for Selkirk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
