\n One resident claimed that, with heavy rain, a sewage pipe drain cover on the Promenade was displaced by the pressure of the sewage flow and \u201cleaked hundreds of litres of sewage\u201d onto the beach.\n<\/p>\n
\n They said: \u201cIt happened on Monday, December 1, and Sunday, December 7. I notified SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and Scottish Water both times.\n<\/p>\n
\n “There is still no sign on the beach to warn the public not to walk there. It stinks and you can see debris.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cSeeing that nothing happened, I notified East Lothian Council and raised my concern about people walking their dogs on contaminated ground. I was told that SEPA should be dealing with this.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cOn Thursday, December 11, the council sent two men with rakes who were scratching their heads not knowing what to do.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n A Scottish Water spokesperson said: \u201cWe were alerted to reports of a surcharging manhole at Musselburgh Promenade following heavy rainfall earlier this month.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cOur teams attended and arranged specialist contractors to carry out an external clean-up of the area, with work completed on December 5 and 11, once conditions allowed.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe thank the public for reporting issues like this, which helps us respond quickly, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cLess than one per cent of waste water comes from toilets \u2013 the vast majority (99 per cent) is made up of surface water and grey water from washing machines, sinks etc.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u00a0\u201cDuring periods of heavy rain, the waste water is even more diluted.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n A SEPA spokesperson said: \u2018\u2018SEPA received reports of unauthorised discharges of sewage on Musselburgh Promenade on\u00a0December 1 and 7 following periods of heavy rainfall.\n<\/p>\n
\n “SEPA reported these incidents to Scottish Water to allow an appropriate investigation and clean-up to be carried out in accordance with the conditions of their sewer network licence.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe have contacted Scottish Water, who confirmed clean-ups were carried out on December 5 and 11.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We will continue to work with Scottish Water and East Lothian Council, who have responsibility for litter and public health at beaches and bathing waters, to ensure these situations continue to be addressed appropriately.\n<\/p>\n