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Experts assess huge sewage leak Forth sewage warnings re-issued
(about 4 hours later)
Environmental protection officers have begun an assessment after a major sewage leak into the Firth of Forth. New warnings have been issued for people to stay away from the Forth estuary until the area is declared safe following a major sewage leak.
Thames Water confirmed that raw sewage was no longer being released into the Firth of Forth from the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant.
However, Sepa expects monitoring of the water to continue until Thursday.
It is investigating the failure of pumping equipment and will later decide whether to take enforcement action.
The environmental protection agency said it expects the water quality to return to normal after a short period of time.
Emergency pumps were brought in after pumping problems at the Seafield plant in Leith resulted in the escape of millions of gallons of sewage.Emergency pumps were brought in after pumping problems at the Seafield plant in Leith resulted in the escape of millions of gallons of sewage.
Scottish Water has apologised for the "catastrophic failure" and said it was working on permanent repairs.Scottish Water has apologised for the "catastrophic failure" and said it was working on permanent repairs.
All of the agencies involved in handling the incident were meeting on Monday to review the situation.
The Seafield plant is managed by Thames Water under contract to Scottish Water.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Edinburgh City Council, Scottish Water and Thames Water, alongside other interested parties including the Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
Edinburgh council said it would be issuing an update following the meeting.
There has been an exceptionally large volume of untreated sewage discharged into the Forth over the last few days Colin BayesSepa official Area's shoreline deserted In pictures: Sewage spill Send us your viewsThere has been an exceptionally large volume of untreated sewage discharged into the Forth over the last few days Colin BayesSepa official Area's shoreline deserted In pictures: Sewage spill Send us your views
The massive leak, which began on Friday afternoon, was finally stopped on Monday morning. The Seafield plant is managed by Thames Water under contract to Scottish Water.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has questioned why the screened, untreated sewage was discharged.
Calum Duncan, the society's Scottish conservation manager, said: "Questions have to be asked about what back-up equipment exists in the event of a pump or other equipment failure.
"Given the choice of releasing the sewage to sea, or allowing it to backflow into people's homes, the correct decision was of course to allow it to be released to sea, but the most important question is why does no back-up system exist to prevent that decision having to be made in the first place?"
A meeting was held on Monday to discuss last Friday's failure.
It involved Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian and East Lothian councils, Scottish Water, Thames Water, Sepa and NHS Lothian. There was also input from the food standards agency.
At the meeting it was agreed that there would be ongoing assessment and sampling of the water using the Bathing Water Quality Standard.
ADVICE TO RESIDENTS Avoid contact with sea water in these areas - do not swim, paddle or participate in waterborne activities If you visit a beach in these areas, stay above the high tide mark to avoid risk of contamination to shoes and clothes Do not remove anything from these beachesDo not let your pets exercise in these areasWash you hands carefully on return home, and before you eat, drink or smoke.If you become unwell after visiting these beaches, particularly with symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea, stomach cramps or fever, seek advice from your GP
It was also agreed that a statement of public health advice would be given in order to ensure a consistent message to all residents, visitors and businesses.
Despite dog-walkers continuing to use nearby beaches over the weekend NHS Lothian said there had been no complaints of sickness from people who had come into contact with the sewage.Despite dog-walkers continuing to use nearby beaches over the weekend NHS Lothian said there had been no complaints of sickness from people who had come into contact with the sewage.
However, an official added that the incubation of E.coli 0157 could take several days.However, an official added that the incubation of E.coli 0157 could take several days.
Colin Bayes, Sepa's director of environmental protection and improvement, said: "We have begun the next phase of our response to the Seafield sewage incident, now that the temporary engineering works to divert the discharge back into the plant have been completed. Colin Bayes, Sepa's director of environmental protection and improvement, said: "Obviously, this is a major incident and we are treating it as such. There has been an exceptionally large volume of untreated sewage discharged into the Forth over the last few days.
"Obviously, this is a major incident and we are treating it as such. There has been an exceptionally large volume of untreated sewage discharged into the Forth over the last few days.
"A team of Sepa officers will begin on-site investigations at Seafield from Monday into the cause of the problem."A team of Sepa officers will begin on-site investigations at Seafield from Monday into the cause of the problem.
"Scientists will be taking samples on the south Forth estuary, including Cramond, Portobello Central and West, Fisherrow West, Seton Sands and Longniddry. These samples will be testing for microbiological quality.""Scientists will be taking samples on the south Forth estuary, including Cramond, Portobello Central and West, Fisherrow West, Seton Sands and Longniddry. These samples will be testing for microbiological quality."
The Seafield plant is on the outskirts of the city
An FSAS spokesman said: "As a result of the incident, fish or shellfish caught in the Firth of Forth after the spill began on Friday afternoon may be contaminated and could pose a health risk to consumers.An FSAS spokesman said: "As a result of the incident, fish or shellfish caught in the Firth of Forth after the spill began on Friday afternoon may be contaminated and could pose a health risk to consumers.
The Seafield plant is on the outskirts of the city
"People should not eat food caught in the affected area and food should not be harvested or fished in this vicinity.""People should not eat food caught in the affected area and food should not be harvested or fished in this vicinity."
A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: "Flows into the Forth were screened as Thames Water used emergency overflow facilities.A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: "Flows into the Forth were screened as Thames Water used emergency overflow facilities.
"These are designed to protect the public. The flows into Seafield cannot be stopped without causing problems for the city and the emergency overflow was used under agreed procedures with Sepa after a failure of equipment."These are designed to protect the public. The flows into Seafield cannot be stopped without causing problems for the city and the emergency overflow was used under agreed procedures with Sepa after a failure of equipment.
"The partially treated waste water was discharged into the Forth. This is in line with UK practice. This removed solids and meant waste water flows would dilute more effectively when entering the Forth.""The partially treated waste water was discharged into the Forth. This is in line with UK practice. This removed solids and meant waste water flows would dilute more effectively when entering the Forth."
An East Lothian Council spokesman said it was continuing to monitor the situation and repeated health warnings to the public.An East Lothian Council spokesman said it was continuing to monitor the situation and repeated health warnings to the public.
Fife Council said there was no sign of contamination on its side of the Forth.Fife Council said there was no sign of contamination on its side of the Forth.