Project Overview
The Isle of Ulva required a self-sufficient water treatment, storage, and pumping system to serve all properties on the island. Due to its remote location and significant seasonal population variations—ranging from 20 residents in the off-season to over 200 in peak months—the solution needed to be robust, efficient, and capable of handling fluctuations in demand.
Challenges Identified
- Remote and Off-Grid Location – A failure in the system would be difficult to resolve quickly, necessitating built-in redundancies.
- Fluctuating Demand – The system had to efficiently manage both low and high water usage periods without compromising performance.
- Water Quality – Required reduction of organic colour and heavy metals while ensuring safe, compliant drinking water for all properties.
Solution Implemented
- Purpose-Built Insulated Enclosure – A 4m x 2m insulated enclosure was constructed to protect all treatment systems and pumps from harsh weather conditions.
- Advanced Filtration & Treatment – Installed an automatically backwashing bone char filtration system to assist with organic colour and heavy metal reduction.
- High-Capacity Water Storage – A 10,000L storage tank was installed to provide a buffered supply and ensure consistent water availability.
- Twin Booster Pump System – The DAB Esybox Max Twin Booster Pump Set was installed to push treated water through the system. The twin pump setup allows for automatic redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted water supply in the event of a pump failure—an essential feature given the island’s isolation.
- Precision Filtration – Water is filtered through a 316 stainless steel bag filter with a 1-micron bag, equipped with inlet and outlet pressure gauges that indicate when replacement is required.
- UV Sterilisation with Temperature Control – A Daro industrial UV steriliser with a temperature dump function was installed to:
- Ensure safe water treatment during high demand periods.
- Prevent overheating in low-demand periods by automatically discharging water to waste, protecting the UV chamber.
Outcome
The new system ensures a safe, consistent, and compliant water supply for all properties on the Isle of Ulva. Designed to handle significant seasonal fluctuations, the infrastructure provides long-term reliability and resilience in one of Scotland’s most remote locations.
