Regulator fines Scottish Water for raw sewage spills
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has served Scottish Water with a civil penalty of £6,000 for breaching a condition of its licence, after a discharge of untreated sewage caused pollution of the Crossford Burn in Dunfermline.
The Variable Monetary Penalty was issued by SEPA following an investigation by its officers. Scottish Water was also required to pay SEPA costs of £1,800.
Following a notification from a member of the public in July 2022, SEPA officers saw a discharge of untreated sewage from a surface water outfall at Crossford Burn in Dunfermline. They reported a significant growth of sewage fungus and discolouration of the burn.
Water analysis and an ecology survey confirmed the pollution indicators reported by the officers, along with others including the presence of dead invertebrates and fish.
SEPA received notification from Scottish Water on 15th July 2022 that a blockage and collapse within the combined sewer network had caused sewage to enter the surface water drainage network, which then discharged into the Crossford Burn. On 26th July 2022, the water company reported having had difficulty in accessing the sewer network to begin repairs, but said repairs were complete and the discharge had stopped.
The discharge of untreated sewage was a breach of Scottish Water’s licence. SEPA said it accepted that there had been a blockage and collapse in the sewer, but “the length of time this spill went on for, and the impact it had on the environment was unacceptable.” It said the civil penalty had been served “to change behaviour and drive improvements in Scottish Water processes.”
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