Rubislaw Quarry set to be pumped out

SLD Pumps and Power to play key role in pumping out landmark quarry in Scotland’s ‘Granite City’

RUBISLAW Quarry, the site credited with giving Aberdeen its famous ‘Granite City’ moniker, is about to be pumped out for the first time since quarrying operations ended at the 5-acre site in 1969.

When the quarrying ceased so too did daily pumping, and in the 43 years since then the quarry has been allowed to fill up with rainwater. Today the 450ft deep void is almost full, but with the water level still rising concerns had been increasing over the potential flood risk.

For the last two years, however, the quarry’s current co-owners Hugh Black and Sandy Whyte, who plan to develop a heritage centre at the site, have been working closely with Aberdeen City Council’s roads department, in co-operation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), to find a suitable solution.

Now, following the construction of an outfall chamber, the installation of an electrical supply and the provision of pumping equipment by SLD Pumps and Power and a flotation buoy from the Balmoral Group, the void water will be pumped into the local water system at a controlled rate, and the risk of flooding will be eliminated.

The pumping equipment will be activated by George Adam, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, at an official switch-on ceremony tomorrow [Friday 17 August].

‘This official ceremony not only marks the first time water has been pumped from Rubislaw Quarry for more than 40 years, but is another step forward in our ambition to breath new life back into the site,’ commented co-owner/director Hugh Black.

‘As part of the successful Granite Festival in May this year, we unveiled our plans for the Rubislaw Quarry Heritage Centre, and over the next couple of months we will be putting together our business plan which will form part of a planning application later this year.

‘We are hopeful that our vision for Rubislaw Quarry will also help Aberdeen’s bid for ‘City of Culture 2017’.