Amlaird water treatment works in Ayrshire discharged sludge into the Craufurdland Water when a member of staff left a valve on a manual setting, while at Stonehouse sewage treatment works in South Lanarkshire a blocked screen resulted in sewage being discharged into Cander Water.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) who investigated the incidents said there had been a number of incidents at Amlaird water treatment works in the past.
“There is a history of unauthorised sludge discharges from this treatment works and we have warned Scottish Water about issues relating to these events on many previous occasions,” said Emma McGeachy, SEPA’s investigating officer for the Amlaird case.
“The fact that this was caused because a staff member left a valve on a manual setting suggests that this pollution happened because of inadequate attention to procedure and improper management.”
The fine levels for both cases were dropped by a quarter because Scottish Water pleaded guilty early. The original fine at Amlaird was £5,000 but this was reduced to £3,750. At Stonehouse the fine was reduced by £2,000 to £6,000.