Scottish Water Fined

Fintry waste water treatment works discharges fully treated sewage effluent and, in storm conditions, partially treated sewage effluent to the Endrick Water. In September 2006 Scottish Water was granted a licence by SEPA to increase the flow passing through the upgraded works. In the licence, SEPA included a condition relating to flow recording equipment because the Endrick Water is a Special Area of Conservation. This is primarily due to the populations of brook and river lamprey, but also the presence of Atlantic salmon.

The installation of monitoring equipment would enable SEPA to assess how well the works was handling the current flows, and what its future potential would be. Some monitoring equipment was installed; however all the necessary equipment was not provided and properly operating between 1 January 2007 and 22 April 2008. On several occasions SEPA was informed that work was required to reconfigure or replace the equipment.

SEPA's Les Watson said that at the moment the discharge from Fintry is not affecting the water quality of the Endrick Water, but the upgraded works allows for a theoretical increase in housing in the village and hence increased flow from the works.