The extent and health risk of sewage pollution in Scotland is currently unknown. In this webinar, you will hear from community campaigners fighting to clean up their local rivers.
Why you should know about sewage pollution
Combined sewer overflows are allowed to spill untreated sewage into rivers, beaches and other watercourses during heavy rainfall to avoid flooding. But Scotland’s network of over 3,500 sewer overflows is ageing and mostly unmonitored: Scottish Water recorded over 15,000 spills in 2022-2023, which covers only 4% of sewer overflows.
At the same time, residents worried about local sewage pollution are struggling to have their concerns heard and addressed because of gaps in and insufficient enforcement of environmental regulations.
Join us over lunchtime to find out more about the experiences of communities trying to hold public bodies to account on ensuring our waterways are clean and safe.
Sewage pollution 101
Joining ERCS will be community campaigners Pippa Scott from River Almond Action Group and Jim Jarvie from SOSLeith.
Together we will talk you through:
- What are the health and environmental risks of sewage pollution?
- How is insufficient enforcement and control of sewage pollution currently affecting communities in Scotland?
- How could communities’ experiences of sewage pollution inform improved regulation?
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Webinar: Defending environmental democracy
