Oil slick
Scores of swans, moorhens, ducks and coots were rescued
by the Scottish SPCA after just a few gallons of cooking oil were poured
into Linlithgow Loch in January 2003. It only takes a minute drop of
cooking oil or motor oil on a
bird's feathers to destroy their waterproofing (like a diving suit
being punctured by a needle). This makes birds susceptible to waterlogging,
and they can drown or die of cold.
Motor Oil is the cause of 20% of Scottish water pollution incidents. It is poisonous to fish and wildlife and smothers plants. Many storm water drains lead direct to rivers, so pouring oil down these drains is the same as pouring it straight into the river. The oil from one car engine is enough to pollute a loch the size of two football pitches.
Waste oil can be recycled into fuel oil and lubricating oil. There are over 1500 Oil Recycling Banks in Britain.
What can I do?
Dispose of all oils carefully.
For further information please contact WWF Scotland: phone 01350 728200, email info@watersense.org.uk, or write to WaterSense, c/o WWF Scotland, Little Dunkeld, Dunkeld, PH8 0AD