Sewer spill stats leave bad smell with Lochaber Lib Dem
Man dies after falling into Skye Fairy Pools
Scottish Water insists Scotland’s waterways, including Loch Linnhe, are in good health despite a 30 per cent increase in overflow events across the sewer network in 2022.
According to recent figures from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), 14,008 discharges were logged, up from 10,799 incidents in 2021, and the highest figure recorded since records began in 2017.
In Highland, there were 952 discharges recorded.
The situation in Fort William and Caol was particularly concerning with 526 overflows into Loch Linnhe last year.
A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “87 per cent of water bodies, including Loch Linnhe, achieve good or better water quality and are among the best in Europe.
“Scottish Water has invested £2.7 billion in improving and maintaining the country’s public drainage system and infrastructure over the past decade to help achieve that status.”
However, the Highland Liberal Democrats are demanding the Scottish Government record and publish all spillages saying there is reason to believe only 144 of the 3,614 overflows in Scotland’s 31,000-mile sewer network are currently monitored (four per cent).
Councillor Angus MacDonald, Highland Liberal Democrat candidate for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: “This is absolutely disgusting. People across the Highlands deserve better. The situation in Fort William and Caol is particularly appalling.
“At the moment in England almost every overflow is monitored but in Scotland it’s only a small fraction. That means the true situation is probably far worse. The new environment secretary needs to record and publish all discharges so we get a true picture.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are campaigning for an acceleration of measures to upgrade Scotland’s Victorian sewer systems and prevent almost 19,000 Olympic pools worth of sewage from flowing into our rivers and onto our beaches.”
Scottish Water argued it was wrong to call spills from the waste water network sewage spills, saying: “The toilet sewage element of the water that spills is less than one per cent of the total volume, with the great majority of spills made up of rainwater,” a spokesperson said.
“The overflows that spill are needed so that water doesn’t back up into homes, streets, businesses and communities.
“These overflows represent huge volumes of rainwater being safely transferred away from homes and businesses - and back safely to the environment to minimise the impacts of extreme weather on communities.
“Everyone has a part to play in protecting and enhancing the quality of Scotland’s coasts and rivers.
“That’s why our Nature Calls campaign, which we launched last year, is encouraging people never to flush wipes or other unflushable items down the loo.
“We also called on the Scottish Government to ban wipes that contain plastic as they take decades to break down and cause thousands of sewer blockages each year.
“We are delighted that the Government has announced it will bring forward legislation to do this.”
Scottish Water has pledged to increase the number of storm drain monitors to more than 1000 by the end of 2024.
It also wants Scotland to introduce legally-binding targets for reducing sewage discharges and ultimately upgrade the nation’s sewage system so they are eliminated.
A man has died after falling into the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye.
Police had been searching for a 22-year-old man who had fallen into the water in Glen Brittle last Thursday (May 18) before a body was recovered at 12.10pm on Friday. The alarm was raised at about 3pm on Thursday.
Coastguard and ambulance helicopters and Skye
Saturday May 27: Glen Coe – Aonach Dubh (892m, Corbett Top); Stob Coire nan Lochan (1115m, Munro Top); Bidean nam Bian (1150m, Munro); Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072m, Munro); Beinn Fhada (952m, Munro Top)
A direct ascent on the west face of Aonach Dubh leads to
Mountain Rescue Team were involved in the search. Officers had closed the junction of Carbost and Glenbrittle, while their search was under way, with the Fairy Pools closed off.
A Police Scotland statement said: “Around 12.10pm on Friday May 19, the body of a man was found in the Fairy Pools, near Carbost, Skye.
The family of a 22-year-old man who fell in the water on Thursday May 18 has been informed.”
The procurator fiscal will receive a report on the incident.
a classic mountain walk along the roof of Glen Coe, high above its Three Sisters.
An impressive glaciated landscape incorporating the highest peak in Glen Coe with stunning views all round and an interesting descent at the nose of Beinn Fhada. A shorter circular route is possible omitting Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Beinn Fhada.
Distance: 11km, 1531m ascent; 8km, 1309m ascent – circular route
For more route details visit www.nevishillwalking. club or contact us at info@ nevishillwalking.club.