The contract will provide sewage and sludge treatment services to an estimated 450 000 people in the region. It represents a capital investment in excess of £50 million (75,5 million euros).

The selected consortium, a joint venture between Northumbrian Water Group (Lyonnaise des Eaux British subsidiary), Degrémont and AMEC will provide for the financing, design, construction and the operation for 30 years of three sewage treatment works and a sludge treatment centre.

The objective is to meet the new quality standards required by the European Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations in Scotland, resulting in improving water and environmental quality in Irvine Bay and the Firth of Clyde in the South West of Scotland.

Commenting on the announcement, Gérard Payen, CEO of Lyonnaise des Eaux said: " Since 1996 the Scottish water market has rapidly opened up to private sector mvestment to comply with the EC législation on wastewater sludge and the urban wastewater treatment directive. This new contract is the second recent success for Lyonnaise des Eaux and Degrémont in Scotland, following our selection for the Levenmouth project in the East of Scotland." He adds : "We look forward to providing our expertise and experience locally, offering an enviromnental-friendly solution that will help the region meet European Union wastewater requirements."