A popular Fife beach has reopened to the public following a sewage leak earlier this week.
Officers from Fife Council’s environmental health department, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water attended on Tuesday, and, following CCTV camera work and other investigations, the defective drainage was attributed to a local business.
The blockage, which caused sewage to enter the beach area in what have been described as “limited quantities”, was blamed on the privately-owned sewer being blocked by wet wipes.
All attending agencies said they were satisfied with the condition of the beach on Wednesday morning and, after further discussion with the consultant in public health medicine at NHS Fife, it was decided to reopen the beach to the public on Wednesday afternoon.
Rob Westlands, Fife Council’s lead officer with environmental health, thanked the public for their understanding while work was carried out.
He added: “The beach was affected by a sewage leak from a privately owned drainage system earlier this week.
“Together with Scottish Water, SEPA, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and NHS Fife, the council has taken necessary action to clean the beach and bring it back into use.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this work was carried out.”
While Scottish Water did not have responsibility for the blocked sewage, staff from the utility company cleared the blockage and the contamination on the beach as a gesture of goodwill, as well as reducing the risk to public health.
Council officials have confirmed that the business concerned will receive written warnings from environmental health, while Scottish Water’s trade effluent team will also contact the business to potentially seek reimbursement for the clean-up operation.
Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, which was also involved in the investigations, erected signage advising people not to come into contact with the beach or the water, but they were expected to be removed on Wednesday evening.
