Sepa probe begins as plant discharges sewage into Forth

A MAJOR investigation is under way after sewage was discharged into the Forth estuary following a problem at a chemical plant.

• The CalaChem plant in Grangemouth

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it was monitoring the situation after Grangemouth-based CalaChem reported that "partially treated effluent" had been released into the water.

Officials from Sepa are now making daily checks on the water, but it is not thought there has been any impact on local wildlife.

CalaChem, a chemical manufacturer, said it was treating the spill as its "highest business priority", but added that the amount of sewage released was within safe limits.

A spokeswoman for Sepa said officials had first been made aware of problems at the plant on Friday. She said: "Sepa was notified by CalaChem that problems with the operation of their effluent treatment plant resulted in partially treated effluent having to be discharged to the Forth estuary.

"Discharges like these are permitted by Sepa under the conditions of CalaChem's pollution prevention and control permit that allows an emergency bypass of the treatment system in order to protect the biological stage of the treatment from damage.

"CalaChem has ceased accepting all waste from third parties and non-critical effluent streams and Sepa is satisfied that the company is doing everything possible to return the plant to full treatment as soon as possible. It is anticipated that there will be a period of up to two weeks of partial effluent treatment, to allow the treatment plant biomass to be restored."

The agency said it had sampled the discharge and was awaiting results. Investigations are also taking place to discover what caused the incident, with the company being called on to provide daily progress reports.

However, it said that due to CalaChem's cessation of some sewage treatment work as soon as the problem was discovered, it was unlikely that the discharge would contravene acceptable safe limits.

A spokesman for the firm said: "CalaChem have encountered a problem with the operation of their effluent treatment plant which is impacting on operations. The effluent release to the estuary is within limits agreed with Sepa and all measures are being taken to rectify the situation

"Sepa have been informed and will be updated daily. CalaChem are working with their customers and have reduced the effluent loading."

He added: "CalaChem take their safety, health and environmental responsibilities very seriously and are treating this situation as our highest business priority."

Last year Sepa was forced to deal with "extensive pollution" to the River Almond after vandals caused 2000 litres of diesel to spill into the water from a derelict print centre.