Scottish Water fined for polluting Fife burn
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Scottish Water was fined £12,000 today (8 June) after they
failed to comply with their licence to discharge sewage effluent
into the Torry burn.
The water company pled guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last
Friday (4 June) following an investigation by the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which was reported to the
Procurator Fiscal. Sentencing was deferred until today.
On 1 June 2009 SEPA officers were alerted by a member of the
public to a discharge of sewage into the Torry Burn. On attending
the site they found that the water was discoloured and sewage
fungus was observed covering the base of the burn. Officers walked
up the burn and found that the over flow pipe from Cairneyhill
Pumping Station was discharging, while the burn upstream of the
pipe was clear. Samples were taken of the burn.
Overflows are only permitted as a result of significant rainfall
and/or snow melt or when flows are in excess of the pass forward
rate of 55l/s. However, the discharge from Cairneyhill Pumping
Station was due to a blockage in the inlet channel which caused the
storm tanks to fill up. An internal power supply fault then
prevented the flow returning automatically from the storm tanks,
thus prolonging the spill.
Liam Macrae, SEPA's investigating officer, said:
"Sewage discharges can be highly polluting in terms of water
quality and aesthetics as they are likely to contain high levels of
suspended solids, ammonia and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).
Such discharges can have an adverse affect on invertebrates, which
in turn can affect animals further up the food chain, such as fish.
Ecology results show that this discharge resulted in a significant
impact on invertebrates colonies in the burn."
"The area around the Torry Burn is well used for walking and dog
walking, and therefore can be regarded as having a high amenity
value to its users. Pollution was noted as far as the nearby
village of Torryburn and extensive sewage fungus and discoloration
of the water was visible, in addition to the strong sewage
odour."
Calum MacDonald, SEPA's Director of Operations, said:
"We want to help people avoid causing pollution and advice
on how to do that is easily available from our staff, offices and
website 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 not hesitate to use its
enforcement powers to protect the environment for the benefit of
all of Scotland's citizens.
"Importantly, 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 editor
The charge Scottish Water pled guilty to was:
On 1 June 2009 at Cairneyhill Pumping Station, Carineyhill, Fife
you SCOTTISH WATER did fail to comply with or contravene a water
use licence (including any conditions imposed) namely Condition
2.5.2 of Water Use Licence CAR/L/1001458 which condition states
that The discharge of storm sewage effluent shall occur when, and
only for as long as the storm tanks are full, occur only as a
consequence of rainfall and / or snow melt within the sewered
catchment; and consist only of flows in excess of the pass forward
rate of 55 litres per second at the pumping station in that on the
date before libelled you did discharge sewage effluent into the
Torry Burn at NGR NT 0390 8614, following a blockage at the inlet
channel and failure of return valves on the storm tanks causing the
pumps not to pass forward the sewage as necessary and that the
discharge was not as a result of rainfall or snow melt within the
sewered catchment and did not consist only of flows in excess of 55
litres per second at the pumping station; CONTRARY to the Water
Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005
Regulation 40(1)(d) Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland)
Act 2003 section 20