Scottish Water has been served a civil penalty of £6,000 by Scotland’s environmental regulator for breaching a situation of their licence after a discharge of untreated sewage triggered air pollution of the Crossford Burn in Dunfermline.
The Variable Financial penalty (VMP) was issued by the Scottish Atmosphere Safety Company (SEPA) following an investigation by officers. The water firm had been additionally required to pay SEPA prices of £1,800.
SEPA stated it obtained notification from a member of the general public on eleventh July 2022 of air pollution within the Crossford Burn in Dunfermline. When its officers attended the following day, they noticed a discharge, later confirmed to be untreated sewage, from a floor water outfall, which was flowing to the Crossford Burn. There was a big development of sewage fungus and discolouration of the burn, in line with SEPA’s assertion. Officers additionally skilled odour on the burn. Water samples had been taken.
On 14th July 2022, SEPA officers and ecologists visited the burn once more – the polluting discharge was nonetheless occurring. Additional water samples had been taken, and an ecology survey confirmed the presence of lifeless invertebrates and fish, in depth sewage fungus and continued discolouration of the watercourse. Evaluation of the samples confirmed elevated ranges of ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and reactive phosphorous, –indicative of untreated sewage.
SEPA obtained notification from Scottish Water on fifteenth July 2022 {that a} blockage and collapse inside the mixed sewer community had triggered sewage to enter the floor water drainage community, which then discharged to the Crossford Burn. On twenty sixth July 2022, the water firm confirmed in writing that there had been issue in accessing the sewer community to determine and start the mandatory repairs, however repairs had been full and the discharge had stopped.
The discharge of untreated sewage was a breach of Scottish Water’s licence, because it triggered vital discolouration of the Crossford Burn, and it additionally triggered a big development of sewage fungus within the burn. Scottish Water skilled difficulties with accessing seized manhole covers, which contributed to the delays in accessing the sewer community and likewise in tracing the foundation explanation for the discharge. Nonetheless, these delays exacerbated the results of the air pollution, and Scottish Water didn’t take all practicable steps to stop deterioration of the Crossford Burn.
Ashley Clunie, SEPA Unit Supervisor for Fife, Angus and Dundee, stated:
“Whereas we settle for that there was a blockage and collapse within the sewer community, the size of time this spill went on for, and the influence it had on the atmosphere was unacceptable. This civil penalty has been served with a view to change behaviour and drive enhancements in Scottish Water processes, particularly making certain well timed responses to air pollution incidents.
“The penalty imposed, plus fee of our prices, demonstrates our dedication to defending Scotland’s water atmosphere and making certain accountability when operators fail to adjust to rules designed to guard the environment.”
As SEPA explains, VMPs are discretionary monetary penalties which SEPA can impose for a related offence following an applicable investigation.
