Company fined thousands for Scottish river pollution

A construction and civil engineering company has been fined £4,000 for permitting its contractors to carry out illegal work causing "an extremely serious case of pollution" in the River Lyon in Perth, Scotland.


Shawater Limited pleaded guilty at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday after its contractors carried out work without the necessary licence under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2011.

The breach of regulations, which are intended to protect Scotland’s water environment was investigated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The company’s license did not include permission to construct a pipeline, ford and access track. In addition, the firm did not ensure that adequate measures were in place to prevent excess silt entering the watercourse.

SEPA’s investigating officer Brendan Craig said: “This was an extremely serious case of pollution in what is a very important watercourse.

“The involved parties failed time and time again to install the appropriate mitigation measures which, in turn, led to repeated pollution issues.

“Scotland’s watercourses are exceptionally important to our environment and anyone carrying out this type of activity is obliged to minimise any impact.

“Shawater Limited failed to ensure their contractors carried out the work legally and their prosecution should serve as a strong reminder that practices which do not meet environmental legislation will be punished accordingly.”

Conor McGlone

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