A WASTE PIPE that caused a potential hazard to inshore sailing on the Moray coastline has been exposed yet again by recent exceptional tides.
Environment campaigners first highlighted the pipe on Lossiemouth’s West Beach last autumn and sparked initial denials over who was responsible for the structure.
The pipe had been seen floating on the surface at high tide in September in a position that was believed to cause a potential navigation hazard.
Following reports on insideMoray and exchanges between environmental campaigner Pete Miners and various agencies, it was established that the pipeline was a ‘long sea outfall’ from the RAF Lossiemouth sewage treatment works.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) took control of the situation, sending divers to the site in November to assess the situation and take remedial action. SEPA made it clear that there was no adverse impact on human health from the pipe, as the sewage treatment works was operating within its remit and effluent was still being diluted before discharge.
In a letter reporting that the pipe had again become exposed, Mr Miners told SEPA’s North Grampian and Speyside team: “The pipe has again become exposed although I noted that the pipeline was not floating on the surface either on December 27 or again on January 2 when I checked.
“However, the storms at the end of December do appear to have exposed the pipe high up the beach – that was not the case just a few weeks earlier when I checked the area, so we have to presume this is the result of the recent high tides.”
Members of the public are being advised to remain well clear of the exposed pipeline.