Dead fish, black water and toxic smell pollutes river

An investigation has been launched after dead fish, black-coloured water and toxic smells contaminated a river and affected two other waterways.

The Bothlin Burn, which runs through Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire and into the Luggie Water in Kirkintilloch, has been polluted with a grey, fatty looking substance with the River Kelvin also impacted.

Residents and local river watching groups raised concerns after people came across foul smells and spotted dead fish in the water.

Laura Cranie told STV News the stench was so foul “you were literally heaving, you felt like you were going to vomit” when standing in a garden looking onto the burn.

The Bothlin Burn has been contaminated with a grey, fatty looking substance. Submitted

“It was cloudy and milky. The smell was terrible. It looks like a fatty, grey substance stuck to the bottom of the burn.”

Laura said her children would normally feed the ducks in the river when visiting their grandfather, but the birds were nowhere to be seen with her instead spotting a dead eel.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has launched an investigation with officers attending every day since Sunday, July 18.

Scottish Water said the discharge into the river was not from their infrastructure and that their Trade Effluent Team was carrying out further enquiries.

In 2007, Devro, a sausage casing company based in Moodiesburn, was fined £5000 for dumping ammonia and animal fat into the Bothlin Burn.

STV News contacted the business but has not received a response.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “On Friday, July 16, we received a report of an issue at Bothlin Burn and we attended to carry out investigations. Following these investigations, we can confirm that Scottish Water assets in this area are working as they should.

“The discharge which was present was not as a result of any Scottish Water infrastructure. We can confirm that our Trade Effluent Team will carry out further assessments today to determine the potential source of any discharge.

“Scottish Water takes environmental issues extremely seriously and appropriate action will be taken once any source has been confirmed.”

A spokesperson for SEPA said: “SEPA is aware of a pollution issue in the Bothlin Burn in the Moodiesburn area that may have downstream effects on the Luggie Water and River Kelvin.

“Our officers have attended every day since Sunday and samples have been taken. Investigations are continuing, with an ecological survey planned for Thursday, and we are in contact with all relevant parties with a view to identifying the source or sources and determining what further action needs to be taken.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to contact us. pollution incidents can be reported via our 24-hour online form at www.sepa.org.uk/report.”