Furious locals say poisonous sludge that turned a Dalkeith river orange last month has now washed down to the Firth of Forth.
Pictures show noxious orange foam on the shore near the mouth of the Esk where the river meets the Firth of Forth at Musselburgh.
Rebecca Lewis is a local resident and member of a citizen science team that have been taking samples from the Esk, she said the orange foam had washed downstream from the mine workings.
She posted pictures of the orange foam in the Eskbank and Newbattle Community Forum saying: “A local fisherman took these photos showing mine sediment from the Esk gathering near the estuary Musselborough way. It’s all too easy to forget that what might clear locally just becomes a problem elsewhere”.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Rebecca added: “This is also a flag for what we don’t see. The pollution is a real issue.”
On June 11 Edinburgh Live reported on acidic mine water leaking into the South Esk and turning it orange harming creatures that lived in the water.
Locals say the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is aware of the problem but has not taken action.
Brian Parrott, the fisherman who first posted the pictures, told Edinburgh Live he took the pictures when he was out walking his dogs last Thursday.
“It’s a regular occurrence after rain,” he said.
“I think it is a sludge of iron ore from the old mines further up river. I walk my dogs down there every morning from the harbour to the Esk, and have been reporting this mess on a regular basis."
“The photos were taken at the estuary mouth. This has been reported to SEPA before but nothing ever happens,” he added.
“It is so frustrating.”
Edinburgh Live has contacted SEPA and Scottish Water for more information. We will update this story when we hear back.
