Scottish Water urged to get a grip as bills and bonuses rise

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has marked a weekend of major environmental protests at beaches across Scotland by urging Scottish Water to get a grip on sewage discharges, as well as soaring bills and bonuses.

In recent weeks it has been revealed that:

• There were 24,398 sewage dumps recorded in 2024, which lasted for a staggering 208,377 hours.

• Scottish Water have admitted that dozens of “high-priority” projects to stop the worst sewage releases in Scotland have still not been carried out more than two years on.

• Scottish Water have increased bosses bonuses by more than a third.

• Water bills increased by 9.9% in April.

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage will hold a paddle out protest on 17 May to demand an end to sewage pollution. In Scotland events will take place in Dunbar, Stonehaven and Nairn.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Surfers Against Sewage are absolutely right to be highlighting the state of our beaches and waterways.

"24,398 sewage dumps is bad enough but as a result of the lack of data it will be an underestimate. In England 100% of sewage overflows are monitored, whereas Scotland is lagging badly behind.

"People can see the impact of sewage dumping on their local beaches and in their local rivers.

“The government-owned water company needs to get a grip. Scottish Water bosses are getting eye watering bonuses while presiding over outdated sewage standards. Meanwhile the Scottish Government make excuse after excuse.

“To turn the tide on this scandal, Scottish Liberal Democrats have published plans for a Clean Water Act that would see a clamp down on discharges and get to the bottom of this disgusting practice."