Scottish Water fined £6,000 over sewage found in loch

SCOTTISH Water has been fined £6,000 after sewage was discovered in a loch where shellfish are farmed.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to fully treat sewage discharged from Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway into Loch Ryan.

Officers from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency took samples between January and April last year.

On each visit, the samples breached licence limits and indicated that the effluent had not undergone any form of secondary treatment.

John Gorman, Sepa's investigating officer, said: "Since the end of 2005, all towns with populations of between 10,000 and 15,000, such as Stranraer, should have secondary treatment provided to their urban wastewater treatment plants.

"Scottish Water was well aware of the legal requirement to meet European Directive conditions and discussions had been taking place between SEPA and Scottish Water since May 2000."

Loch Ryan is designated for shellfish farming, but has consistently been failing to meet environmental quality standards.