Scot Lib Dems reveal 1 in 5 sewage discharge points are unsatisfactory
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today warned that action is needed to upgrade Scotland’s sewage network as he revealed that more than 1 in 5 of the country’s discharge points are graded “unsatisfactory”.
Scottish Water’s 2022-23 annual return to the Water Industry Commission Scotland (WICS) reveals that 776 out of 3591 sites where sewage dumping, known as intermittent discharges (IDs), takes place are unsatisfactory according to Scottish Water's own measures.
According to Scottish Water, these sites include “Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO), Settled Storm Sewage Overflows (SSSO), Surface Water Overflows (SWO) and Emergency Overflows (EO) and IDs at WwTWs (Inlet CSOs, SSSOs and EOs)”.
Updated figures published on the Scottish Water website on 26th June, showed that there were 25,109 sewage dumps in Scotland in 2023, an increase from the 21,660 originally reported in March and more than double the number of dumps recorded in 2020.
Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced plans for a Clean Water Act which would see:
• Scotland’s Victorian sewage network updated;
• Every sewage dump monitored and published with binding targets for their reduction;
• A blue flag system for Scotland’s rivers;
• A complete ban on the release of sewage in protected areas such as bathing waters.
Alex Cole-Hamilton said:
“Scotland's beautiful rivers and waterways risk being ruined by shocking levels of sewage dumping.
“By Scottish Water’s own measure, a fifth of sewage outlets are unsatisfactory.
“Coupled with big increases in the number of sewage dumps last year, this is a tide of bad news for those who enjoy our natural environment.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats have published plans for a Clean Water Act that would see a new blue flag system for Scotland's rivers, as well as vital updates to our sewage network and a clamp down on discharges. Ministers need to stop their excuses and toughen up on sewage dumping across Scotland.”