Stinking sewage has been “pouring” out of a manhole cover near a well-used public footpath.
Ellon resident Alan McWilliam spotted the breach whilst out walking his dog at the weekend – and he says it has been going on for years.
The path is next to the Scottish Water plant at the Meadows and is the main pedestrian route to Ellon Academy and a popular riverside walk from the town centre.
But Mr McWilliam said three year of complaints to the firm about the “stench” and what he describes as a “disgusting mess” at the exposed drain cover have not made any difference.
He said last night: “It is always much worse after heavy rain, and on Saturday night it was pouring over the path. The raw sewage comes out of the manhole cover on the side nearest the water works and it runs over onto the far side of the path.”
Mr McWilliam described the puddle that has formed as a result of the leaking drain cover, commenting: “You can see human excrement and used toilet paper in amongst it. It is getting bigger and bigger.
“The path has been cleaned up since the heavy rain, but they need to fix the problem so this does not continue to happen.”
Local councillor Isobel Davidson last night said she had not been told about the issue.
“I had no idea this was a problem,” she said.
Mrs Davidson went to inspect the site as soon as she was informed of the leak by the Press and Journal and added: “Even though it has been cleaned up, the smell is still unpleasant for walkers using the path.
“Improvement works are currently being planned for the water plant, so hopefully that will help alleviate the problem. Raw sewage is definitely not acceptable on a public walkway. ”
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “We are aware of the issue, which occurred following a sustained period of rain in the area on Saturday. Scottish Water is investigating and a clean-up of the footpath has taken place.”