Water allegedly shut off to 52,000 people

Discussions are ongoing in a bid to resolve a prosecution against a company - and its operations manager - charged with causing “significant environmental harm” to two Perthshire burns.

They are accused of discharging fertiliser into the Ordie Burn, near Bankfoot, and an unnamed tributary of the Wynnie Burn more than two years ago.

As a result, in addition to allegedly killing an unspecified number of fish and invertebrates, it is claimed that Scottish Water had to shut off the drinking supply to approximately 52,000 people - more than the entire population of Perth.

Thirty-seven-year-old Andrew Bailie, of Homeview, Hindford Bridge, Lanark, and Digestate Management Services Ltd, c/o Alan Ritchie, Hope Street, Lanark, have denied three charges.

At a continued hearing at Perth Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said it was hoped the matter could be resolved“one way or another,”given there were potentially 40 prosecution witnesses in the case.

The matter has been continued to March 9 when both accused have been requested to attend.

It is alleged that between September 21 and 23, 2017, at Little Tulliebelton Farm, Bankfoot, during a spreading process, Bailie and Digestate Management Services Ltd discharged anaerobic digestate fertiliser into the Ordie Burn and the unnamed tributary of the Wynnie Burn.

The charge claims that they killed“a quantity of fish and invertebrates”and caused Scottish Water to close off the drinking water supply to a local population of approximately 52,000.

A second charge alleges that they both contravened rules which state that no fertiliser should be stored on land within 10 metres of any surface water or wetland.

They also faced a third charge of contravening environmental and other regulations by carrying out an activity“liable to cause pollution to the water environment.”

It is claimed that they discharged anaerobic digestate to the Ordie Burn and the unnamed tributary on three occasions between the same dates, again resulting in the death of fish and invertebrates.

The internet describes anaerobic digestate as a biofertiliser, providing crops with readily available nitrogen.

It was said to be an“excellent alternative to bagged fertilisers” and to“improve the sustainability of farming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases associated with fertiliser manufacture.”