Scottish Water pled guilty yesterday at Oban Sheriff Court after sewage was allowed to spill into Tobermory Bay, and were fined £6,667.

Scottish Water admitted carrying on a controlled activity liable to cause pollution of the water environment, when untreated sewage was discharged into the Bay by way of a break in the main collecting sewer within the harbour wall.

In April 2008 SEPA officers received complaints from members of the public about sewage entering Tobermory Bay.  When they carried out an investigation they witnessed a substantial flow of sewage leaking from the base of the harbour wall west of Mishnish Pier, and noted the presence of sewage debris and an accompanying strong odour.

The matter was then reported to Scottish Water for them to take appropriate action to stop the leak.  Over the following months SEPA had many discussions with Scottish Water to identify the cause of the problem. Further inspections of the harbour in August and September 2008 showed that sewage was still leaking through the wall.

Investigations found that the break in the sewer allowed seawater, sand and pebbles to enter the collecting system, causing damage at the pumping station that transfers collected sewage from the town to the treatment works at Glengorm.  The damaged transfer pumps were unable to pass forward correct flows and the sewer was remaining full, discharging sewage back through a break in the sewer within the harbour wall and into the bay.

It was also found that equipment used to record the frequency and duration of authorised storm overflow events was not functioning properly meaning there was no record of the number of times any discharge had occurred from the pumping station itself.

Jenny Davies, SEPA's investigating officer, said:

"Odour from the discharge has affected residents and visitors to Tobermory and concerns have been expressed about perceived deterioration in water quality. Local residents and others have also expressed concerns about the possible effects on human health arising from contact with the sewage contaminated water."