An attempted fuel theft from a petrol station in Scotland has seen locals told not to drink tap water over concerns of diesel contamination.
Thieves are reported to have tried to steal fuel from the Gulf Lix Toll Fuel Express Site in Killin, Perthshire, on the morning of 20 February, with the attempt resulting in one of the forecourt’s fuel tanks being damaged.
Diesel is said to have entered the nearby river Dochart and affected a local water treatment plant before Scottish Water was able to close the facility’s intake.
Certas Energy, which runs the forecourt, told the BBC it had experienced an “attempted theft which damaged one of our fuel tanks”, and that “equipment was found on site that suggested there was an attempt to steal diesel from the tank”.
The firm added it is “as concerned as everyone else” and is “investigating to fully understand what happened, are engaging with the police, Sepa, the Health and Safety Executive and other specialists at the site”.
Killin residents noticed an unusual, solvent-like taste in their tap water on 20 February, and were subsequently told by Scottish Water that tap water should be used for flushing toilets and nothing else, including drinking, cooking, washing, feeding pets, brushing teeth and running appliances connected to mains supplies.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is investigating the incident and said that after testing the River Dochart on Sunday 22 February it determined “the situation has improved”, while the same evening Scottish Water said residents could bathe and wash with tap water, but should still not drink it. Around 500 homes and businesses are said to be affected.
A statement released by the water firm said: “Teams have been working around the clock since the alarm was raised and the local water treatment works was shut down as a precautionary measure.”
The company’s water operations manager John Griffen warned it could be “several days” before domestic supplies become safe to drink, and that the company is “doing everything we can to support customers who have been affected by providing reliable alternative supplies while the normal supply is unavailable.”
He added: “We are actively tankering water into the local network to flush the pipe system and to allow customers to flush their toilets.”
