A third suspected pollution incident has this week been identified in west Stirlingshire in less than a month.
The latest incident is believed to be linked to the Scottish Water treatment works at Drymen, with claims that potentially harmful effluent was being pumped into the Endrick Water.
However, Scottish Water have refuted the suggestion, saying that the water treatment works is “working as it should”.
The latest incident, identified by members of Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust is the third to have been uncovered in the area in three weeks.
Last month we told how an investigation was launched after raw sewage was discovered in water bodies at two separate locations – in Fintry and Killearn.
Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust this week said: “Another day another pollution incident, courtesy of Scottish Water. This time it was the Drymen water treatment works pumping effluent into the Endrick Water. We contacted Scottish Water and are currently awaiting the stewards enquiry into what went wrong this time.”
They added: “By way of update, the Fintry effluent event was caused by a pipe being blocked by leaves, causing the system to go into storm mode. How long it had been like this is anyone’s guess.
“The Killearn event was caused by a leak from a pipe leading into the works.”
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A spokesperson for Scottish Water told the Observer: “We can confirm that our waste water infrastructure at Drymen waste water treatment works is working as it should. On-site investigations have been carried out and we have been liaising with SEPA who also visited the site to confirm that there are no issues. All licence requirements have been adhered to at this location.”
Last month, we told how Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust staff came across the two pollution sites at Fintry and Killearn. The first spillage was uncovered whilst members of the trust were replacing tree protectors. They said: “We found what appeared to be untreated sewage coming out of the outflow culvert emanating from the Fintry water treatment works.
“The right hand side of the river was covered in grey sludge and it was obvious that this was a discharge of raw sewage.
“From the state of the river bed it looked as if this seepage had been ongoing for some time.
“We contacted Scottish Water and SEPA and have since been informed that there was an issue within the works and that repairs will be made.”
The second spillage was found just days later whilst trust members were measuring out a new tree planting site on the Kirkhouse Burn. They added: “We came across another sewage leak, this time it was bubbling up from a hole in the ground and draining into the Kirkhouse, just upstream of the Killearn water treatment works.
“Once again it was quite apparent that there was raw sewage in this leak and we again contacted Scottish Water and SEPA. We have since learned that there is a discharge from a pipe that feeds into the waste water plant and that repairs to the pipe will have to be made.
“It is our intention to visit these sites over the next few days to make sure that the remedial works highlighted above are undertaken as stated.”
In an update this week, Scottish Water said that issues have been identified at the sites at Killearn and Fintry. A spokesperson said: “Following CCTV investigations at Killearn waste water treatment works, we can confirm that we have identified an issue with a manhole. We are working with the local land owner to ensure the matter is resolved and a repair will be carried out as soon as possible. Until the repair can be undertaken, measures have been put in place to ensure there is no adverse effect on the local environment.
“Following investigations at Fintry waste water treatment works, we identified an issue with waste water infrastructure at a private property which was causing an issue at the works. Appropriate action has been taken and there are no further issues.”
At the time of the spillages in Killearn and Fintry, Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust went on to highlight issues over “ongoing problems” in the Endrick and Blane Valleys with waste water treatment and hit out at a “chronic lack of investment”.
They said: “What these incidents show is that there are ongoing problems in the Endrick and Blane Valleys with waste water treatment.
“A chronic lack of investment in these local facilities, exacerbated by a massive growth in population over the last 25 years, is leading to ever more common concerns around these plants and what they are depositing into the rivers in the local area.
“Without significant investment and upgrade at these works, we believe the plans to add to the housing stock around Killearn and Fintry are just going to make this situation worse.”
The Observer asked SEPA for comment but none had been received as the Observer went to press yesterday (Thurs).
