Groundwater abstraction for Speyside Distillery

We developed and licensed an array of groundwater abstraction boreholes to supply a new distillery with cooling water. The distillery now benefits from the required sustainable groundwater supply, with the application having been approved by SEPA.

  • Client Gordon & McPhail Distillery
  • Location Speyside, Scotland
  • Services

Challenge

Gordon & MacPhail’s new Speyside distillery, The Cairn, required a supply of cooling water which we assisted with by developing and licensing an array of groundwater abstraction boreholes to meet this need. Careful design was required in order to achieve the abstraction whilst promoting environmental best practice. 

Solution

We successfully coordinated the feasibility assessment, design and construction, testing and licensing of the groundwater abstraction boreholes. While the specific solution varies by site, the following key tasks undertaken at the Speyside distillery are detailed below. 

Feasibility assessment - a detailed conceptual hydrogeological understanding was developed to gauge suitability of the underlying glaciofluvial aquifer as a water resource.

Design and construction - this system involves drilling three boreholes to specific depths to access the desired volume of groundwater.

Test pumping and analysis – including pre-test monitoring, step-tests and constant rate tests, and recovery tests.

Licensing – the WAT-RM-11 regulatory method requires certain tests to be met, including: surface water flow impact test, adequate resource test, a water features survey, and water efficiency measures.

Benefit

Work was carefully planned with the materials and drilling technique used to avoid impact on other water users and designated ecological features in the adjacent River Spey. Due to the location of the boreholes close to the river, although the abstraction is nominally from the sands and gravels, the water source is indirectly from the river. In addition, by using boreholes to abstract the water, the risks from a direct surface water intake, regarding disturbance of sediment in the river, are negated. 

Our understanding of the hydrogeological and regulatory processes and their challenges has resulted in confirmation from SEPA that the abstraction licence application has been approved. The distillery now benefits from the required sustainable and licensed groundwater supply which has negated the need to mitigate against potential impacts that may have arisen from an alternative surface water supply.

Black arrow pointing right
Want to know more?

For more information about groundwater supply projects please contact Eleanor Williams.

Services

  • Arrow left white
  • Arrow right white
Technology, Data and Software Development

Delivering transformative technology that is pioneering in the pursuit of flood, water and environmental resilience.

Link arrow Find out more
Modelling and Assessment

Developing leading resilience strategies and solutions founded on the integrated modelling and assessment of water quantity, quality and environmental processes.

Link arrow Find out more
Engineering

Working within a robust and mature digital delivery environment, our engineering specialists work closely with our modelling, hydrology and environmental teams to ensure designs are developed to create efficient, low-carbon and sustainable solutions.

Link arrow Find out more
Environment and Sustainability

Our specialists in landscape, heritage, ecology, fisheries, EIA, planning and sustainability all work collaboratively with our engineering designers, modellers and our project managers to develop resilient places.

Link arrow Find out more
Water Management

Our proven skills and experience make us a natural partner to help support communities and organisations to become more resilient. We support and empower our clients to manage the twin risks of flood and drought, encouraging and delivering effective water management.

Link arrow Find out more
International Development

Working with communities across the world to identify and mitigate flood and environmental risks, support sustainable development and build resilience.

Link arrow Find out more
Cross to close search
Click To:

Analytics

We use analytics cookies to anonymously track your user journey and interactions with our website. This information is used to help us understand the user experience and to work towards improving the website and the content we publish.

Marketing

We sometimes make use of third party tracking code to help us determine the succes of any marketing campaigns we might run. This can also be used to ensure you are given content relevant to your interests.

Get in touch…

We'd love to hear from you. Just fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Do you have a question or message for |NAME|? Just complete the form below with your information and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.