Sewage in the Forth

Just outside of Edinburgh is the Firth of Forth, spanned by an incredible coppery orange painted bridge. Built in 1890 it was the major piece of civil engineering in Scotland at it's time. Going over this bridge on an East Coast train is wonderful. The Forth is an incredible tributary to the sea. Below the bridge spans are some small islands which at one time were inhabited. I don't know whether it was by people who worked there or they had little communities. But all the buildings are shells. One of which has a concrete cross on top of it. Large ships easily go underneath the bridge. People sail their dingys in the Forth or yachts if they are well to do. Off the shore there usually stand a number of tugs, showing this is a working River where people graft for a living. Each and every time I go over this bridge the view is different. Sometimes it can be breath taking as the train will take a couple of minutes to complete this stretch. It has to slow, because the bridge is old now and as always is being repaired or painted.

Thames water run a sewage treatment works on the Forth. On Friday it broke. They run the sewage works on behalf of Scottish water. Thames Water is now owned by a German company and have since the sell out been pretty prudent in it's spending. Making of course what all companies want, lots of money. An Archimedes pump broke at this sewage works. The radio reported approximately 6,000 litres of sewage per second was now spilling into the Forth. It's said by officials, though I don't know the providence of these officials, the sewage will likely dissipate with the tides and cause little in the way of environmental damage. Though the notion of a skinny dip on the edge of the Forth is probably something none of those same officials will sign themselves up for.

It is sad with such a casual demeanour an event like this can happen and be accepted all is well. All is not well. It shouldn't of been allowed to happen. Personally I'd like to see each and every high ranking owner, executive and self important suit at Thames Water personally be made responsible. Lets drop them in for a little swim just so they can test the water and tell us after they've been checked out for diseases, that all is well. No doubt the Firth of Forth will recover and I expect I'm being a little over dramatic. I just hope I don't have to put a peg on my nose the next time I go over the bridge.