Investing in Gladhouse Reservoir

Project Overview

Gladhouse Reservoir is a drinking water source to 150,000 customers in Midlothian and parts of Edinburgh. To keep it running smoothly, we need to carry out maintenance and upgrades.

Over the next two years, we will be working on a multi-million-pound improvement project to keep the site safe and reliable.

Most of the construction work will take place on the north shore of the reservoir, where the spillway will undergo a major refurbishment.

The works are being carried out by Scottish Water’s delivery partner, George Leslie Ltd.

At A Glance

Provides drinking water to 150,000 customers
Supplies Midlothian and parts of Edinburgh
Multi-million-pound investment
Expected completion 2027

Gladhouse Reservoir satellite map graphic

Gladhouse Reservoir Investment Project

Satellite view of the planned work at Gladhouse Reservoir, Midlothian

What We Are Doing

Over the next two years, we’ll be carrying out a major refurbishment of the spillway channel, including replacing and raising the road bridge.

Before work can commence on the spillway, the road bridge must be removed in consideration of the health and safety risk to the teams operating underneath it. This means that a road closure will be in place from June 2025.

The spillway is a controlled overflow channel that directs excess water from a reservoir to prevent flooding and protect the dam structure, especially during heavy rainfall or storms.

Unfortunately, the road bridge won’t be replaced until we near the end of the project, but when it is, it will be raised to better withstand future flooding and will be designed to support up to 44tonnes.

Other refurbishment work will include strengthening joints, improving flood defences, and installing temporary valves to help control water levels.

Why We Are Doing It

The work at Gladhouse Reservoir is being carried out to ensure compliance with the Reservoir (Scotland) Act 2011.

The current road bridge obstructs maximum flood flow, therefore requires to be raised to allow unrestricted flows.

View of a reservoir spillway with a metal railing in the foreground and lush greenery on the sides, under a clear blue sky.

Scenic view of a reservoir spillway with lush greenery on either side and trees in the background under a clear sky.

Outdoor scene featuring a warning sign from Scottish Water on a fence in front of a lush, natural area with a stone-lined reservoir spillway.

A sunny view of a rusty bridge with a metal railing over a reservoir spillway, surrounded by shrubs and foliage, leading to a paved road extending into the distance.

Rustic metal bridge spanning over a dry stone-lined spillway under a clear sky, surrounded by greenery and fields.

A rural scene with a road marked by a "Weak Bridge" sign with a weight limit of 3T, leading over a small bridge next to a wet field and bordered by trees and shrubs under a clear sky.

Infrastructure Upgrade

Both the reservoir's spillway and road bridge will receive significant investment and upgrade

Community Engagement

We are committed to keeping residents and visitors informed and involved throughout the duration of the project. As part of this effort, we are engaging with the closest neighbours to the reservoir on an ongoing basis to ensure they are aware of the upcoming works.

In addition, we will be hosting a drop-in event for the community to share detailed plans regarding the spillway work and the removal of the road bridge. We have planned this event prior to the commencement of the bridge removal, giving us an opportunity to fully engage with and address any concerns from the local community.

The drop-in event will be held at Gorebridge Beacon (Gorebridge Community Development Trust) EH23 4TT on Thursday, 24 April between 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

We encourage all residents to attend and provide feedback as we aim to make this project as smooth and transparent as possible.

Visiting Gladhouse

We recognise our reservoirs provide important access to green space, and Gladhouse reservoir is enjoyed and valued for many reasons by those who visit. That being said, you'll still be able to visit the reservoir while our work takes place.

As always, we'll do all we can to keep any disruption for visitors and local residents to a minimum. See our Visiting Gladhouse Reservoir webpage if you are planning a visit.

Construction Site

Aerial footage of the construction site and compound on the reservoir's north shore

Further Information

We will continue to update this page with the latest information. Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our helpful FAQs at the bottom of the page.

Need to get in touch?

You can email us at gladhousereservoir@scottishwater.co.uk. You can also follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on our activities: