Brief

Diageo apologises after caustic soda spill kills fish in Moray

The drinks group expressed regret over a May spill of caustic soda into Knockando burn, a River Spey tributary, that devastated a 2 km stretch of habitat.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:32:10 GMT

Diageo said it is “sincerely sorry” for a pollution incident that killed a large number of fish and other wildlife in a River Spey tributary in Moray earlier this year.

What happened

In May, a chemical believed to be caustic soda entered the water at Knockando burn, which flows into the River Spey. The director of the Spey Fishery Board described a 2 km stretch of the burn as “destroyed” and warned that recovery could take years.

What the reports add

The Standard reported that a number of distilleries operate around the Spey, and that the incident is one of the largest the Spey Fishery Board director has seen in his 36‑year career.

What was said

Diageo spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) following this deeply regrettable incident. We are sincerely sorry for the damage caused to the local environment and the impact on river users and the wider community.” SEPA said the investigation is ongoing and that any enforcement action will follow its policy and legislation.

How it came about

The spill occurred during routine operations at a distillery site near Knockando burn. Earlier coverage by Felo highlighted other river pollution incidents, such as sewage misconnections in London (link).

Key facts

Diageo apologised for a caustic soda spill in Knockando burn (standard.co.uk)
The spill occurred in May and killed many fish and wildlife (standard.co.uk)
SEPA is conducting a live regulatory investigation (standard.co.uk)
A 2 km stretch of the burn was described as destroyed (standard.co.uk)
The incident is among the largest seen in 36 years by the Spey Fishery Board director (standard.co.uk)