Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage
We want to stop pollution from sewer overflows.
Overview
Sewage pollution is dangerous to the health of people and the environment. Yet, over 30 billion litres of raw sewage was discharged from sewer overflows into Scotland’s waterways last year.1
Our sewers collect both sewage and rainwater. Sewer overflows are designed to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall by discharging sewage into watercourses. But currently, they are being used for routine pollution. Together with community campaigns RAAG and SOSLeith, we are calling for better regulation to Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage.
River Almond Action Group (RAAG)
RAAG was formed in response to the severe pollution coming from sewage treatment works in the River Almond, West Lothian. They sought bathing water status to get more protection, but were refused.
For over two years, ERCS has tried to make it easier for communities to get a bathing water designation.
Save our Shore Leith (SOSLeith)
SOSLeith has been fighting against the long-term impacts of sewage pollution in the Water of Leith, Edinburgh. Despite water test results demonstrating sewage pollution, their concerns have gone unaddressed.
Call to action: Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage
We all care about having clean waterways to protect nature and our right
to safe water. To tackle water pollution, we need a national conversation
on how to make transformational change. Let’s start by dealing with sewage!
We call on all Scottish parties to:
Updates
Blogs & news
Bathing waters designation – murkier than ever?
Bathing water designation came to our attention when we were contacted by the River Almond Action Group (RAAG). In this blog, our Assistant Legal Officer Preslava Todorova analyses how, over two years after our representation to Environmental Standards Scotland, bathing water designation remains murkier than ever …
Save Our Shore Leith: Two years of advocating for a clean Water of Leith
SOSLeith have been fighting against sewage pollution for over two years, with little action from environmental regulators …
Bathing water case update: Have the waters cleared?
In recent years, outdoor bathing has become increasingly importance to our health and wellbeing. Yet all is not well – not a day goes by without another sewage scandal, another tale of polluted rivers or beaches clogged with plastic waste …
Bathing water case update: the good, the bad, and the ugly
In March, we submitted a formal complaint to Environmental Standards Scotland about the prohibitively high threshold for applicants seeking bathing water designation for Scotland’s beaches, lochs and rivers …
Sewage polluted waters and a lack of monitoring – Save Our Shore Leith
Community organisation Save our Shore Leith (SOSLeith) campaigns against the impact of sewage outflows and the lack of monitoring in the Water of Leith – Jim Jarvie explains why and what needs to change …
ERCS challenges Scottish Government over bathing water status
ERCS has made a complaint to Environmental Standards Scotland regarding the government’s unlawful approach to the designation of bathing waters in Scotland …
Resources
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- Scottish Water (2025) Scottish Water Overflow Event Data to SEPA 2020-2024 & Summary; Scottish Water (2025) Scottish Water Non-Reported Overflow Event Data & Summary 2022 – 2024 ↩︎
