Scots dog owner devastated as dog dies hours after swimming in ‘toxic’ water as probe launched into ‘waste dump’

AUTHORITIES are probing whether potentially toxic waste was dumped in a Scots river after one dog died and two others got sick after swimming in it.

The beloved pets all swam in the River Don in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and drank the water.

One incident saw a dog lose its life two weeks after water chiefs warned about large amounts of waste potentially being dumped in the sewers.

The owner said his adored German Shepherd became sick the night after being in the Don and tragically died the next morning.

They urged all dog owners in the area to keep their pets away from the river and immediately reported the incident to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

They alerted people to the incident with a message shared on local Facebook page Fubar News.

It read: "I just wanted to put out a warning to all dog walkers.

"Please keep your dogs away from the river temporarily if possible.

"My dog had been in the Kemnay River, had drunk the water, had been sick the same night and unfortunately passed away the next morning.

"There have been lots of dogs getting unwell recently that had been either in the water or on walks, this had been reported to SEPA and waiting for an outcome.

"I can't say for sure it was definitely the water but there is a chance it could have been."

It comes as Scottish Water said they were investigating whether large amounts of waste had been dumped by tanker trucks, but are still probing all potential causes.

They have seen an influx of chemicals at Water Treatment sites for Kemnay, Oldmeldrum and Daviot.

They say the pattern and nature of the problem suggest that significant amounts of waste could be being dumped in the sewers by tankers, which could originate from a much wider area.

Water chiefs had been visiting large commercial sites after several events in the area which suggested that large amounts of waste were being disposed of in the public sewers.

'Report suspicious activity ASAP'

Locals have been urged to be aware of any "unusual activity" near the water.

They have been asked to keep their eyes peeled for any commercial vehicles such as tanker lorries near the river which may be suspicious and report them as soon as possible.

Scottish Water crews have been at the sites to make sure there are no problems with the waste they are licensed to discharge to the sewer.

Initially, Scottish Water had been the only body handling the situation, but the ill pets have caused Scotland's eco watchdog to be called in.

A spokesperson for SEPA said: “SEPA have received a report of three dogs that have become unwell after entering the River Don at Kemnay, in an area popular with dog walkers.

“We have spoken with the notifier and are working with other competent authorities.
Investigations are ongoing.

“Anyone who is concerned about a potential pollution incident should contact SEPA online at www.sepa.org.uk/report or via the Pollution Hotline 0800 80 70 60.”

Scottish Water’s regional Waste Water Operations Manager Craig Low said: “Each of our Waste Water Treatment Works across Scotland is designed to meet the needs of homes and businesses within its area while protecting the local environment. 
 
“The population of ‘good bacteria’ which plays a crucial role in cleaning the water thrives in stable conditions.
Any sudden and significant change in the strength and composition of waste water has the potential to disrupt the treatment process and harm the natural environment that it works to protect.
 
“Following several events which our teams have had to respond to in Kemnay, Oldmeldrum and Daviot, we are investigating all potential causes.

"We are seeking the help of local communities in being alert to any unusual activity by tankers in the area which could be linked to the problems we’ve been experiencing.
 
“Scottish Water and many businesses use tankers in the area legitimately, but it is unusual for tankers to be discharging anything to the sewer network.

"Tankers will normally operate within our fenced Waste Water Treatment Works or other sites that are designed to receive them.

"We would ask anyone who sees unexplained activity by tankers to note the details without approaching the operator and report them to us as quickly as possible on 0800 077 8778.”