Drug addicts have dropped dozens of used and bloody syringes down the drains of a Dundee housing estate.
Contractors working for Scottish Water pulled used hypodermic needles from drains and service hatches in Ardler this week.
Tony Cannig, who was working for RPS Group on behalf of the water authority surveying the area’s sewage system, said the number of syringesdisposed of in Turnberry Avenue and Gleneagles Street was worse thananywhere else in Scotland.
Drug users shoot up in the street and then get rid of their used needles by dropping them down drains or, more commonly, service hatches.
These are the small, square covers that provide access to the drains.
They have small holes in the lid which are just big enough for syringes to be dropped through.
Although they are not visible to the public, they are a real hazard to anyone who requires access to the drain.
The needles get stuck in the shaft making it impossible for service work to be carried out until they are cleared away.
“We are working on behalf of Scottish Water to clear the drains before they can work on them.
“There have been drains and service hatches with 10 or 12 needles down them.
“They stick down the sides of the drain so they all have to be cleaned out but there are some that have dropped down.
“I’ve worked all over Scotland and it is a problem all over the place but this is the worst I’ve seen.
“This is only in one small part of Ardler so there could be lots more elsewhere. In one service hatch I pulled out about a dozen needles and will have to go back as one has dropped right to the bottom and I’ll need a special tool to reach it.”
Once collected the needles are disposed of safely.
Mr Cannig said the discarded syringes do not interfere with the water supply but do pose a hazard to workers who have to remove them.
Turnberry Avenue resident Jim Bryce said: “It’s not something you actually see them do but we are aware of it,
“There is a lot more drug-related crime in Ardler now.”
Mr Bryce added: “Even though they put the needles down drains you do worry about children or pets.”
A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “RPS is carrying out work on our behalf as part of an integrated catchment study.
“This study is being carried out in partnership with Dundee City Council where our contractor is essentially verifying the sewer modelling in the study accurately reflects what’s actually in the ground.
“This work involves some sewer cleaning and CCTV activity. Approximately 37,000 blockages in Scotland’s drains and sewer network last year were attended by Scottish Water and around 80 per cent of these are caused by people putting the wrong things down their sinks and toilets.”