Risk news

Businesses which store chemicals on site have been urged to ensure they have an employee who is trained for the event of a spill.

Such substances should never be washed into surface water drains as many of these lead directly into nearby lakes, rivers and streams, warned Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) investigating officer Brendan Craig.

"Any spillage of chemicals near watercourses or drains should be reported to SEPA immediately, allowing our staff to provide advice and guidance," he added.

SEPA issued the guidance after I & H Brown Ltd was fined £3,000 for contaminating a watercourse in Perth with calcium polysulphide after disposing of the toxic ingredient in a drain.

The company, based at Battleby Farm, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, pleaded guilty to breaching Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 Regulation 40(1)(b) Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 Section 20(1) at Perth Sheriff Court.

Last month, SEPA said it will check for traces of rural diffuse pollution in the watercourses of Ayrshire by carrying out a series of river walks.

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