Diesel tank blamed for river oil spill

THE source of an oil slick that polluted a section of the Water of Leith has been traced to a diesel storage tank leaking into a man-made tributary.

The Water of Leith Conservation Trust and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) received dozens of calls about an industrial-smelling pollutant under the Murrayfield footbridge.

The pollution was traced to the outlet of a covered culvert which carries floodwater into the waterway from as far afield as Craiglockhart.

Graeme Brown of Sepa said: "Booms have been put in place at the site of the culvert discharge to the Water of Leith to stop any residual oil getting into the watercourse."

Sepa officers attending the site have not seen any evidence of harm to wildlife, including fish and birds. Further monitoring will be carried out to establish whether there has been an impact on the water quality as a result of this spill.

A Sepa spokeswoman added: "The leak from the diesel storage tank does not appear to have been a deliberate act, but investigations into the circumstances are ongoing."