Liberal Democrats propose Bill to clean up rivers
The legislation would update sewage networks and ban sewage being released into bathing waters and other protected areas.
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Your support makes all the difference.The Liberal Democrats have proposed a new Bill to clean up the UK’s rivers, with its Scottish party leader accusing the Government of being “neck-deep in failure”.
The legislation – announced on Wednesday – would update sewage networks, monitor sewage dumps and set targets for reduction and completely ban sewage being released into bathing waters or other protected areas.
Analysis from the party claims sewage was released 21,000 times into bathing waters in 2022.
The Lib Dems have made cleaning up the UK’s rivers a key staple of their election campaign.
All across the UK, Liberal Democrats are the only party who have a plan to get the sewage out of our rivers and off our beaches
Speaking following a visit to the River Almond, near Edinburgh, Scottish party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “SNP ministers have become spin doctors for the Government-owned water company and outdated standards.
“Bosses are taking home bumper bonuses while millions of litres of sewage gets dumped into our rivers, lochs and beaches.
“All across the UK, Liberal Democrats are the only party who have a plan to get the sewage out of our rivers and off our beaches.
“We want a clean water act for Scotland to update the sewage network, proper monitoring to find all the dumping and a complete ban on this filthy practice in protected areas such as bathing waters.
“People are sick of governments neck-deep in failure who just can’t get the basics right. Every Scottish Liberal Democrat you elect will be a local champion focused on cleaning up the sewage scandal.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “It is important to note that overflows from sewers are wastewater which has been highly diluted by rainwater, and which normally consists of less than 1% toilet waste.
“Sepa assesses 87% of waterbodies in Scotland as having ‘high’ or ‘good’ water quality, up from 82% six years ago.
“This means our rivers and coastal waters are overall in good ecological condition, but we are not complacent and continue to work closely with Sepa and Scottish Water to monitor and improve water quality.
“Scottish Water is taking action and is already committing up to £500 million to improve water quality, increase monitoring of the highest priority waters, including bathing waters, and tackle debris and spills.
“This includes a commitment to install at least 1,000 new monitors on the network by the end of 2024 – good progress is being made, with around 800 having already been installed by the end of March.
“We have also recently undertaken a public consultation on water, wastewater and drainage which considers how we limit the amount of rainwater entering sewers to reduce overflows.”