New business created at former Polmonthill Sewage Works

Falkirk Council has granted planning permission for a fledgling firm to convert a disused sewage works into an aquaponics business.
The business will take over the former sewage works site. Pic copyright GoogleMapsThe business will take over the former sewage works site. Pic copyright GoogleMaps
The business will take over the former sewage works site. Pic copyright GoogleMaps

Cumbernauld-based ScotAqua Ltd was given the go ahead on January 26 to erect polytunnels and change the use of the former Polmonthill Sewage Works, in Polmont, into a premises which produces vegetables and farms fish.

ScotAqua Ltd, owned by acquaculturist Stephen Laing (54), uses a particular system of aquaculture, which takes the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic creatures to supply the nutrients for plants grown hydroponically – which in turn purifies the water being used.

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Typical components used in the process include a rearing tank for raising and feeding the fish, a biofilter where the nitrification bacteria can grow and convert ammonia into nitrates suitable for plants and a hydroponics subsystem where plants are grown by absorbing excess nutrients from the water.

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