Massive sewage failure at Seafield - beach and water warning

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 24 Apr 2007, 20:18

there were quite a few brave souls on the beach this afternoon and evening, and two who were actually paddling

pitoreskni · Post by **pitoreskni** » 24 Apr 2007, 20:56

Noticed a whole group of little kids paddling while their parents watched from the prom this evening!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Apr 2007, 23:17

eedjits

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 25 Apr 2007, 09:27

From today's Scotsman Forth passes water test.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Apr 2007, 18:49

From today's EN:

Sewage everywhere - so why was there no sign of danger?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Apr 2007, 18:52

Spotted in the Evening Times:

THE hatchet has been well and truly buried and peace has broken out at Easter Road. Just to show there were no hard feelings we hear that John Collins took some of his players down to Portobello for a refreshing dip in the Firth of Forth. Wonder if any of them came back looking slightly tanned?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 25 Apr 2007, 19:03

Bob Jefferson wrote:From today's EN:

Sewage everywhere - so why was there no sign of danger?

And if that sign at the baths had been on only those passing it would see it - I doubt very much that people would come all the way from Kings Road or Joppa to have a look - considering how many ignored the signs on their big yellow blocks over the last few days! Ignored as in either didn't bother reading it or did read it but didn't care! That sort of sign at the baths is fine if you are a regular on the beach and know its there!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Apr 2007, 19:11

Yes, I did make that point as well to the journalist. The problem is that you have got a very long stretch of the beach that can be accessed from any point. And as you say, you can't legislate for people who choose to endanger their own health or that of their children.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 27 Apr 2007, 18:12

Latest briefing:

Latest re: Failure of pumping equipment at Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant

As a result of full test results from samples taken by SEPA and the concerned councils confirming that the quality of the bathing water in the Firth of Forth meets the Bathing Water Quality Standard and does not present a risk to anyone using the beach or bathing in the water, the Council has erected new signs informing residents and visitors that the beaches are once again safe to use.

The text of the new signs reads as follows: “Advisory Information; Safety guidelines that were previously in place have been lifted and it is now safe to use the beach as normal. It is still advised not to fish or collect shellfish until further notice. Should you have any queries, please contact the City of Edinburgh Council on 0131 200 2000”.

Water samples were taken by the Council’s Scientific Services staff at 14 points along the Edinburgh shoreline, from South Queensferry to Portobello.

Initial results obtained on Tuesday were indicative of the eventual positive outcome; however, until this was definitive, Environmental Wardens continued to provide a face-to-face presence on site along the coastline and public health advice remained in place until 5pm yesterday (Thursday 26 April).

We will also be continuing visits to the fishmarket as a matter of course.

It is important to note that tests on fish and shellfish are not yet complete. As fish may in the short term accumulate bacteria, the Food Standards Agency’s advice (endorsed by the Council and other concerned agencies) is that fish and shellfish should not be collected or consumed from the area running from Cramond to Gullane Point until further notice.

It is expected that the FSA will further reduce the area affected by its precautionary advice and that on return of its food sampling results (expected later today) will make a decision to lift the restrictions.

We are at present compiling a report to be submitted for an independent inquiry.

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 27 Apr 2007, 23:41

I passed several guys fishing from the Kings Road end of the beach last night.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 28 Apr 2007, 00:11

GRANTY wrote:I passed several guys fishing from the Kings Road end of the beach last night.

hopefully just for their own enjoyment and not to supply local restaurants!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 28 Apr 2007, 08:00

From the BBC:

Fish 'edible' after sewage spill

Post by **wangi** » 17 Sep 2007, 15:07

From the EN - all's well now...
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 1488462007

Life's a beach as seas declared clean

BEACHES in the Lothians enjoy some of the cleanest waters in Scotland, according to a new report.

Ten designated beaches around Edinburgh were found to all meet strict EU water-cleanliness standards for the tenth year in a row.

Portobello West and Central beaches – which were at the centre of a major sewage spill earlier this year – were rated as having good quality water by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

However, Portobello West is in danger of missing tougher future EU standards on cleanliness

...

Caroline Muirhead, from Portobello’s Big Things On The Beach trust, said: “There were a couple of weeks when the beach was really quiet after the spill, so this is quite an important way of getting the message out that the beach and sea are clean.”

...

But "good" is not that great, I guess!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Feb 2008, 13:25

From the BBC website: Firm fined for Forth sewage spill

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 18 Mar 2008, 10:15

From yesterday's EN:

Sewage pours into Forth as pump breaks again at plant

PortyConvert · Post by **PortyConvert** » 14 Sep 2008, 14:19

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7615195.stm

The sites classed as poor were Sandyhills (Dumfries and Galloway), Saltcoats/Ardrossan (Ayrshire), Ettrick Bay (Bute), Portobello (Edinburgh), Aberdeen, Cruden Bay (Aberdeenshire) and Rosehearty (Aberdeenshire).