Sewage: Jardine calls for action over dumping into River Almond

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has called on the Scottish Government to act after speaking to constituents who are outraged at the routine dumping into the River Almond. 

In 2022 14,008 discharges were logged, up from 10,799 incidents in 2021.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Introduce the first legally-binding targets for reducing sewage dumps.
• Speed up protection of bathing waters.  
• Record and publish every sewage dump. 
• Upgrade Victorian sewage network and improve infrastructure. 
• Speed up protection of bathing waters.

Christine said, “It is completely unacceptable that the Scottish Government seems to accept the dumping of sewage into our waterways by the government-owned water company.

“My constituents are outraged to see the once fresh and vibrant River Almond now resembling an open sewer flowing through the heart of their communities. 

“Residents are rightfully concerned over the disruption the dumping is having on their hobbies such as walking or fishing, the impact to their health and the effect on local wildlife. They deserve to see this dire situation addressed.

“That is why Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for the Environment Secretary to reduce discharges, ramp up monitoring, and accelerate measures to upgrade sewage systems to tackle overflows.”