Argyll SCADA Project – Inveraray WTW

Client Requirement

Scottish Water faced a critical challenge at Inveraray Water Treatment Works (WTW), where the existing control system—over 30 years old—had become obsolete and unsupported by the manufacturer. This posed a significant risk to the continuity of water supply across four remote sites in Argyll & Bute. The client required a modern, reliable control system to replace the legacy infrastructure, with minimal disruption to operations and full compliance with technical assurance standards.

Our Solution

BGEN Ltd was appointed as the System Integrator Sub-contractor and Client Framework MCC/SI specialist to support the design and delivery of the new control system. Our key contributions included:

• PLC Migration Strategy: Developed a comprehensive strategy document detailing all permanent and temporary equipment required for the control system replacement. This leveraged our deep experience in live process plant migrations.
• Functional Design Specification (FDS): Collaborated with ESD to produce a robust FDS using a bottom-up approach. Despite limited legacy documentation, we helped identify and capture existing functionality through site surveys, SCADA mimic reviews, and parallel analysis of similar PLC software structures.
• Software Design & Testing: Translated the FDS into a Software Design Specification and conducted full Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at our Penketh workshop. This ensured all software was rigorously tested and validated before on-site commissioning, reducing risk and improving efficiency.

Client Benefits

• Reduced Operational Risk: The new control system eliminated the threat posed by obsolete hardware, ensuring reliable water treatment operations.
• Enhanced System Reliability: Through thorough documentation and testing, the solution delivered a robust and future-proof control infrastructure.
• Efficient Project Delivery: Early development of key documents enabled clear scope definition, reduced commercial risk, and streamlined stakeholder alignment.
• Minimised Downtime: Our migration strategy and FAT process ensured minimal disruption to live operations during commissioning.