Perth watercourse pollution incident lands company with £3,000
fine
10 March 2010
Companies and individuals handling chemicals are being reminded
of the devastating effect they can have on watercourses after a
company was fined £3,000 for disposing of calcium polysulphide into
a surface water drain which then reached a Perth watercourse.
I & H Brown Limited pled guilty at Perth Sheriff Court
yesterday (Tuesday 9 March) to disposing of the chemical into a
surface water drainage system, which in turn discharges to a
tributary of the River Tay, known locally as the Denmark Burn. The
matter was investigated by the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA) before being reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
SEPA was alerted to the pollution incident by Scottish Water,
who had been contacted by a member of the public concerned that a
local burn was running white. When a SEPA officer attended to
investigate they found the water just north of the A9 was
completely white in colour and at the B8063, where it comes out of
a culvert, the water was very white and smelt of hydrogen sulphide.
On visiting Battleby Farm some white liquid was evident in
puddles.
Following an inspection of the site, and discussions with I
& H Brown Limited, it was found that a container of calcium
polysulphide had burst, had been moved to a hard standing area, and
the remaining contents washed down the drain.
Brendan Craig, SEPA's investigating officer, said:
"The way the spillage was handled by I&H Brown resulted in a
highly polluting substance being released into the water
environment. As the company failed to notify any authority of the
pollution incident when it occurred, extra time and resources were
expended in investigating the incident and locating the
source.
"Any site storing chemicals should make sure they have someone
who knows what to do in the event of a spill and should have
guidance for staff to follow if one does occur. Chemicals should
never be washed into surface water drains, as many of these lead
straight into nearby water courses with no treatment at all. Any
spillage of chemicals near watercourses or drains should be
reported to SEPA immediately, allowing our staff to provide advice
and guidance on containment and clean up thereby minimising any
impact on the environment."
SEPA's Colin Bayes, Director of Environmental Protection and
Improvement said:
"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, where pollution is significant or persistent, or is as a
result of wilful or negligent actions, SEPA will use its
enforcement powers to protect the environment for the benefit of
all of Scotland's citizens.
"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."
Ends
Notes to Editors
The exact charge I&H Brown was found guilty of was:
- On 16 June 2008 at Battleby Farm, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth,
Perthshire you I. & H. Brown Limited did fail to comply with or
contravene a general binding rule, namely General Binding Rule
11(a) as specified in Schedule 3 of the aftermentioned regulations
which states that oil, paint, paint thinners, pesticides,
detergents, disinfectants or other pollutants shall not be disposed
of into a surface water drainage system or onto any surface that
drains into a surface water drainage system in that you did by the
hands of your employees Ian Brown and William Small dispose of a
pollutant namely calcium polysulphide into a surface water drainage
system, namely the surface water drain to the rear of the main shed
at Battleby Farm which discharges into an unnamed tributary of the
River Tay; CONTRARY to the Water Environment (Controlled
Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 Regulation 40(1)(b) Water
Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 Section
20(1).