Scottish Water under fire over broken sewage pipe at Brora beach
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Users of a Sutherland beach are becoming increasingly concerned at a lack of action by Scottish Water over a broken outfall pipe which has been spewing sewage out onto the shore for nearly two months.
Walkers who regularly visit the Back Shore at Brora say the spillage is attracting large numbers of sea birds, creating a stink and causing a 300 metre sheen to appear on the water in calm conditions.
Newly reelected MP Jamie Stone said this week the situation was “unacceptable” and is calling for urgent action to be taken.
But Scottish Water has apologised for the delay and say a suitable “tide and weather window” is required for repair work to be undertaken.
A “pinhole” leak in the pipe at the Back Shore was first noticed six months ago but the structure suffered major sea damage on November 13 when two sections broke off.
Retired B&B operator Stewart Anderson, Manse Park, regularly walks his dogs on the shoreline and said the break had been reported immediately to Scottish Water.
He said he had confirmed that the utility was in contravention of its discharge licence by continuing to allow sewage to spill onto the shore.
“Despite requests, Scottish Water has yet to make any announcement that discharges are continuing or even provide a warning notice on Back Shore,” he said.
“This is a matter of increasing concern to those of us who regularly walk the area. The break happened nearly two months ago and still sewage is being pumped, daily onto the shore.
“Many beach users, including locals, are unaware that the pipe is still in use and as the damaged section is covered at high tide, only the birds and the smell give any indication that something is wrong.”
“I meet a lot of people walking their dogs there and there is significant dismay (about the issue).
Jamie Stone told the Northern Times: “ Scottish Water should have fixed this weeks ago and it is unacceptable that they have not.
“Now that I have been returned as the local MPs, I have written to Scottish Water asking them to take urgent action.”
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “We apologise for the delay in repairing the damage to the outfall pipeline from Brora Waste Treatment Works.
“In normal circumstances the pipeline takes the effluent from the works to a sufficient distance from the shore, and depth below the surface, to protect the environment.
“Following the damage, we engaged a specialised contractor to carry out the repair that is needed. To complete this repair to the pipeline safely and successfully at this location, our contractor needs a suitable tide and weather window.
“After assessing the forecast conditions over the next two weeks, our contractor intends to carry out preparatory work off-site in order to reduce the working time that they need on the foreshore as far as possible.
“They expect this to allow the repair to be completed on site by early February. We want to ensure this work takes place at the first suitable opportunity and are sorry that earlier efforts were not able to proceed.”
