Dundee Council unites to call for action of sewage dump

Dundee City Councillors came together in a cross-party show of unity this week. The council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed unanimously to lobby the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition and the Chief Executive of Scottish Water over sewerage discharges into Scotland’s rivers. The councillors also seek details and assurances about the situation in Dundee.

The issue was raised by Liberal Democrat Councillors Craig Duncan and Daniel Coleman and supported by all parties on the council.

Broughty Ferry councillor Craig Duncan said :

“The reason the Liberal Democrat Group brought this issue on sewage discharges into Scotland’s rivers and seas to councillors is because of the justifiable concerns of people right across Scotland.   Already other local authorities have passed similar recommendations to ours, including our neighbours in Fife Council where the Liberal Democrat Group brought the issue forward and all-party support on the matter was achieved.”  

“It is very worrying that sewage was dumped at least 14 000 times across Scotland in 2022, an increase of 30% compared to 2021, but that no monitoring is conducted in Dundee.    Thankfully, we know from the blue flag process that Broughty Ferry beach continues to fully comply with the standards and requirements for water quality analysis, but far too much of Scotland’s sewage overflow points are monitored (- only 4% - just 144 out of 3 614), compared to around 90% in England, so the actual figure will be much worse nationwide.”

“The local environment and everyone who uses all the rivers and beaches across Scotland deserve the highest possible protection.   We therefore think the calls from campaigners for every sewage dump to be properly recorded and published, the introduction of legally-binding targets for reducing these overflows, the upgrading of Scotland’s ageing sewage system, an end to dumping around Scotland’s best beaches and a faster process for the protection of bathing waters.”

Scottish Water has belatedly said that the number of storm drain monitors in use will be increased to more than 1000 by the end of 2024, however, the Liberal Democrat Group highlighted the need to keep the pressure on Scottish Water to deliver improvements.  Committee therefore agreed that council Chief Executive Greg Colgan will now contact both Alex Plant, the new Chief Executive  of Scottish Water and Màiri McAllanMSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Scottish Government to highlight the issue and seek reassurances with the situation locally.

Strathmartine councillor Daniel Coleman added :

“This is a vitally important issue across Scotland and it is good to see other local authorities across the country already raising this and putting pressure on Scottish Water to do much more to tackle sewage discharge across the country.”

“We feel Scottish Government should be proactive to ensure there is recording and publishing of every sewage dump, introduction of the first legally-binding targets for reducing these sewage dumps, the upgrade of Scotland's Victorian sewage network, a ban dumping on Scotland's best beaches and the speeding up of the protection of bathing waters.”

“We are pleased that the council has acted with one voice in highlighting this concern and is lobbying both Scottish Government and Scottish Water.”