We call on all Scottish parties
to Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage
Sewage spills are polluting our rivers and coasts. To protect nature and our right to a healthy environment, the next Scottish Government must tackle the reckless use of sewer overflows.
Sewer overflows were designed to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall by discharging sewage into watercourses. But they are being used for routine pollution. Over 30 billion litres of sewage was discharged from sewer overflows last year – that is more than 12,000 Olympic swimming pools.
Safe water is part of our human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, a right that is recognised in 165 out of 193 UN Member States.
Scotland’s water industry is publicly owned by us – and sewage pollution does not serve the public good. Communities across Scotland are struggling to have their local waters cleaned up. Now, we are joining forces to demand all Scottish parties make clean water a priority in their election manifestos.
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 enshrine our right to a healthy environment and:
1. Make pollution visible
Introduce 100% monitoring of all sewer overflows so that we know how often our waterways are being polluted.
2. Stop routine pollution
Match the new EU standards for surface water quality and wastewater treatment to safeguard human and environmental health.
3. Hold polluters to account
Review the resources and enforcement of our current regulations to give public bodies the tools to protect our waterways.
4. Build in resilience
Set interim targets for 2030 to invest in blue-green infrastructure to reduce sewage spills.
Sign the petition
If you live in Scotland, please add your name to turn local ripples into a national wave.
Sign on this page as an individual. Sign as an organisation.
Help us reach 4,083 — one for every sewer overflow in Scotland.
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