MYSTERY BROWN LIQUID FOUND AT BEAUTY SPOT
CONTAMINATED land investigators are looking into where a mystery brown liquid on a Runcorn works site access road came from.
The fluid was spotted by the Weekly News at the side of the lane running from Wigg Island to Randle Island.
Will Watson, Halton Borough Council contaminated land officer, said the substance could be an ‘iron-rich leachate’ formed from iron oxide, which is the key compound in rust.
The location where the substance was spotted is close to the fenced-off area of Wigg Island nature reserve and not far from the Mersey Gateway bridge works.
Mr Watson said: “This wasn’t something Halton Borough Council was previously aware of but I was able to visit site yesterday (December 20).
“The roadway has been cleaned by a roadsweeper, part of the general management and maintenance of that location by Merseylink as there are still works ongoing around Wigg Island, so I didn’t see the situation as in your photographs. However, I’m confident that I did identify the same location as there was some indication of the liquid.
“My initial thoughts are that it’s an iron-rich leachate from the bank adjacent to the roadway.
“Iron oxide is readily leached from the soils likely to be present in this location, particularly given how wet the ground is at the moment.
“I am in contact with the environment team at Merseylink to try and investigate further.”