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Two farming partnerships penalised for water pollution incidents

A penalty of £6,700 has been issued to J & A R Reid, near Scone, after silage effluent adversely impacted two burns over several months in 2023. Meanwhile a £3,700 penalty was served on R & R Gray, near Dunblane, after slurry pollution affected more than two and a half kilometres of watercourse in 2024.  

Both penalties were Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs), one of the enforcement tools available to SEPA as part of a range of measure to protect and improve Scotland’s environment. In both cases, the level of penalty took into account the co-operation of those responsible and actions taken to prevent further reoccurrence.  

Silage effluent pollution near Scone

SEPA officers launched an investigation following public complaints of strong odours, discoloured water and fungal growth in the Langley and Anatty Burns during August 2023. They confirmed the presence of sewage fungus and noted strong odours affecting a 150-metre stretch of the Langley Burn and 50 metres of the Anatty Burn. 

The pollution was traced to a leak of silage effluent from the farm operated by J & A R Reid. Investigations revealed that the silage store was full and stacked above its design capacity, and that a faulty section of effluent pipework was discharging into the surface water drainage system, which ultimately led to the water environment.  

Analysis of water samples taken by the officers confirmed significantly elevated levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and phosphorus downstream of the discharge. SEPA ecologists observed excessive fungal growth and dead invertebrates along a 300-metre stretch of the watercourses, with impacts extending close to a designated Special Area of Conservation. In addition to the VMP, J & A R Reid was required to pay SEPA costs of £2,010. 

Slurry pollution near Dunblane

In a separate incident, SEPA officers investigating a report of pollution affecting two unnamed tributaries of the Scouring Burn observed a discharge from a field drain and noted sewage fungus and discolouration of the water, alongside a strong smell of slurry. 

An ecological assessment confirmed extensive organic pollution, with impacts on aquatic life visible more than 2.5 kilometres downstream. Water samples confirmed elevated levels of ammonia, BOD and suspended solids.  

A member of the partnership of R & R Gray later informed SEPA that an old slurry lagoon had overtopped, flowing across land and into a drain leading to the burn. On this occasion, the farming partnership fully cooperated with SEPA officers, which led to a quick resolution. 

The partnership is also required to pay SEPA costs of £1,100.  

Environmental impact and preventative action

Slurry and silage effluent are among the most polluting substances in agriculture, they are rich in organic material and nutrients, and even small volumes can strip oxygen from watercourses, killing fish and invertebrates.  

While both incidents caused serious harm at the time, neither is expected to result in long term damage to the environment due to action taken to stop the pollution and support recovery. 

Farmers are reminded of the importance of regularly checking storage and pipe work infrastructure, particularly older or less used facilities, to ensure they are secure and functioning properly. 

Alex Macaskill, Unit Manager of SEPA’s Falkirk Alloa Stirling and Perth team, said: 

“These incidents are a reminder of the serious harm that poor management of effluent can cause to Scotland's water environment. While they are a valuable source of nutrients on the farm if they are not managed correctly and escape from storage systems, they can cause pollution to both surface and ground waters. 

“Farmers and land managers have a legal responsibility to protect local water environments. Slurry and silage spills can cause significant damage to the water environment, so we’re urging everyone to check their stores, ensure effluent is being properly collected and contained, and take prompt action if any issues are found. We know the vast majority take their environmental responsibilities seriously but it's essential that these checks are done regularly to prevent pollution such as this. In both these cases the pollution was significant and avoidable. They caused widespread pollution which harmed aquatic life and breached environmental regulations designed to protect watercourses. 

“SEPA will always work with those we regulate to ensure compliance, but we will use enforcement powers where appropriate and where we have evidence of a breach. Farmers and land managers must ensure that they are operating responsibly - the future of Scotland's environment depends on it.” 

VMPS are one of the enforcement options available to SEPA under its powers to drive compliance with environmental law and prevent repeat incidents.  

They sit alongside other enforcement tools available to SEPA staff, including advice and guidance, final warning letters, statutory enforcement notices, other civil penalties and reports to the Procurator Fiscal.     

 SEPA’s enforcement action is designed to secure compliance with regulatory requirements, protecting and improving the environment. It aims to bring activity under regulatory control, stop offending, stop harm or reduce the risk of harm arising from non-compliance.   

Notes to editor

From 1 November 2025, water, waste management, and industrial activities are regulated in Scotland under Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). Information about activities that may cause pollution, including the application of pesticides, agricultural or rural activities such as the cultivation of land, the disposal of waste sheep dip, the disposal of disinfectant washings. and the authorisation required to carry on each activity are available on the Farming and Water Scotland website and on SEPA's website

Information on Variable Monetary Penalties imposed is available on SEPA’s website at Penalties imposed and undertakings accepted, along with details of Fixed Monetary Penalties (FMPs) and Enforcement Undertakings accepted.  

Information on how a VMP is calculated is available on SEPA’s website.