Yesterday I reported on a pollution incident that occurred on the Lugar. I have more details now although just how serious an incident this has been remains unclear.
I understand that a small number of fish were observed dead, downstream of the point where water used to extinguish a fire at the Dumfries Estate entered the river. This water was contaminated with nitrogen stored on the farm and possibly other chemicals from equipment and materials damaged in the fire. SEPA were informed of the dead fish after leaving the site by an accident investigator.
Overnight the river came into spate so any signs that I had hoped to collect today have been washed downstream and lost. SEPA’s ecologists were similarly hampered and prevented from collecting any samples today. Perhaps the heavy rainfall may have arrived in time to dilute the pollution and save fish.
This type of incident is unfortunate but thankfully no one was injured in the fire.
