Scottish Water fined £10,000
Posted: Wednesday 24th January 2007
Scottish Water has been fined £10,000 after admitting to breaching a Water Use Licence and discharging sewage into a West Fife burn.
They pled guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court (Tuesday 23 January) to allowing sewage effluent to enter the Torry Burn, near Cairneyhill, after a blockage at Cairneyhill Pumping Station caused the pumps to trip.
The incident, which was reported to the Procurator Fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), came to light after a resident complained of seeing a discharge entering the Torry Burn from the nearby pumping station.
SEPA officers investigated and noted that the river was grey and smelling strongly of sewage. downstream of the pumping station.
Water sampling concluded that the Torry Burn had been grossly contaminated with sewage fungus and there was a considerable impact downstream.
Investigating officer Julia Johnstone said: “The burn is in a rural setting with a path running along its banks that is used by the public. Pollution of the burn resulted from sewage effluent discharging from Cairneyhill Pumping Station. The ecology results showed that the discharge had caused a significant impact to the invertebrate communities downstream for up to 1 km.”
Colin Bayes, SEPA's Director of Environmental Protection and Improvement, added: "We want to help people avoid pollution and advice on how to do that is easily available from our staff, offices and www.sepa.org.uk. The NetRegs website, www.netregs.gov.uk, also offers clear guidance on environmental rules and regulations.
“However, if a pollution incident occurs, we urge anyone to let us know straight away by calling our 24 hour pollution report line, 0800 80 70 60, giving as many details as possible so effective action can be taken."
