Scottish Government rejects Caithness surfers calls for full sewage overflow monitorin

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Far North, David Green, says it “stinks” that the Scottish Government has no plans monitor 100% of overflows despite sewage concerns raised by Caithness campaigners.

Mr Green wrote to Gillian Martin MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, after local children from North Shore Surf Club - supported by Phoebe Strachan, a six-time Scottish National Women’s Surf Champion - were so distressed by sewage that they created protest signs carrying messages such as “Hobbies before Jobbies” to raise awareness. 

According to data published earlier this year by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross there were 522 sewage spills in 2024 - up from 442 the year previous - for a duration of almost 2473 hours.

In the Far North there are only four overflows with annual monitoring data – by Lochcarron, Balintore, Edderton, and Tain – although none of these sites are monitored for volume. In addition to these spills, the Scottish Liberal Democrats investigation into sewage dumping revealed there have been 51 complaints, made exclusively to Scotland’s Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), dating back to 2022.

Examples of complaints made across the Far North include untreated sewage discharged into the Cromarty Firth near the Storehouse by Evanton, sewage blown into Smoo Cave and across Dunnet Beach, a burst pipe discharging sewage into the River Thurso, and sewage runoff near the Golspie Wildcat Bike Trails.

While the latest Scotland wide data show there were 24,398 times overspills in 2024, experts believe the problem is likely to be far worse. Unlike in England, only a small fraction of sewage overflow points in Scotland has full annual monitoring data.

In his letter to the Cabinet Secretary, David Green argued for a Clean Water Act that 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, and a complete ban on the release of sewage in protected areas such as bathing waters.

In response, Gillian Martin MSP explained; “Rather than permanent monitoring, Scottish Water has already carried out comprehensive modelling in partnership with SEPA…” Scottish Water is “identifying the right locations for increased monitoring to maximise the benefit to our environment and return on the investment of public money,” she added. 

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat for Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross, said:

“All credit to Phoebe Strachan and the young surfers at the North Shore Surf Club for banding together amid rising anger over the discharge of sewage into Highland waters. You will find fewer more powerful messages than “Hobbies before Jobbies”.

“When people are failing unwell after being in the water, you know it is a serious issue. Common symptoms range from sickness, diarrhoea, chest infections, and ear and sinus infections – we have learnt some cases have even been severe enough to require hospitalisation.

“In truth, the problem is likely to be far worse than the picture we have been able to pull together through freedom of information requests. Frankly, the lack of monitoring compared to what we see in England is keeping us in the dark. The Safer Seas & Rivers Service app launched by Surfers Against Sewage is therefore a great initiative.

"But community action is also showing the absence of leadership from government. That is why Liberal Democrats are calling for a Clean Water Act that would bring our sewage network into the 21st century and ensure real time monitoring and reporting of all sewage outlets in Scotland alongside binding targets for their reduction. It stinks the Scottish Government isn’t onboard.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Please find attached the breakdown of complaints about sewage dumping and the descriptions given when the complaint was made.

Experts:

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) raised alarms about the minimal monitoring of sewage overflows in Scotland in a 2023 report. Their analysis revealed sewage was discharged into seas around Scotland for more than 113,000 hours last year – a fraction of the true amount as only about 3.4% of Scotland’s storm overflows are currently monitored, compared to nearly all in Wales and 91% in England. See here.

The Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has criticised the outdated and vague regulations governing sewage overflows, recommending enhanced data collection, improved monitoring by Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the establishment of clear rules regarding overflow exceptions. See here.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reported that untreated human and animal waste is being discharged into Scottish waters approximately every 90 seconds. This estimate is based on data indicating around 24,000 discharges last year from just 7% of the sewage network, suggesting the actual number could exceed 364,000. See here.