Sewage has been leaking on to a Fife beach for five days, due to a pipe with a “muckle great hole” in it.
Cellardyke man Rob Glendinning reported the issue to Scottish Water over the weekend.
But when workers turned up to investigate on Monday, the tide was in and the pipe was under water.
Mr Glendinning said: “I’ve contacted them four times now.
“The pipe has a muckle great hole in it and the sewage is pouring onto the foreshore.”
Cellardyke sewage leak: No investigation at the weekend
Scottish Water says it is unclear whether the pipe involved is actually part of its network.
But Mr Glendinning insists it is Cellardyke’s main sewer pipe which was rerouted via the foreshore to the harbour treatment works some years ago.
He noticed the leak when he returned from working night shift on Saturday.
He said: “I looked over the wall at the bottom of my garden, which backs on to the foreshore on James Street.
“I noticed a large hole in the main sewer pipe.
“I phoned Scottish Water to explain this was the main sewer for the whole of Cellardyke.
“And I mentioned the danger of debris such as rocks and seaweed entering the pipe and blocking it.
“But little interest was shown and I was told it was unlikely anyone would attend as it was the weekend.”
Mr Glendinning contacted the company again on Sunday via Facebook to be told it would be investigated within three working days.
And he said: “Eventually they turned up on Monday at 12.45.
“And – you’ve guessed it – it was high tide so off they went.
“Since then, there’s been no sign of anyone to look at the damage, far less repair it,”
Unable to gain access due to tide
Scottish Water has promised to investigate the issue over the next 24 hours.
A spokesperson said: “Scottish Water’s engineers attended to investigate a broken concrete pipe on a beach in Cellardyke following a report from a local resident.
“Unfortunately we were unable to gain access to the pipe due to the tidal nature of its location.
“We have planned for the team to re-attend when it is possible for them to access the pipe.”
“We would like to thank the resident for reporting this to us.”
Conversation