Executive Summary

SEPA has a duty to protect, and improve as necessary Scotland's water quality. This report contains information held by SEPA on water quality in rivers, canals, lochs, estuaries, coasts and groundwaters for the period from 2000 to 2006.

The assessment of water quality and trends is a substantial task. The information in this report is based upon sampling and analysis results from over 4,000 riverine sites, approximately 1,500 coastal and estuarine sites, 200 loch sites and over 250 groundwater sites across Scotland. Data from 1999 form the baseline year against which progress is measured, although longer datasets are used when possible.

Overview
Water quality in Scotland is generally good and continues to improve. In recent years there have been major investments in sewage treatment and greater control of other sources of pollution from individual sites. Although diffuse pollution originating from farmland and urban areas is being reduced, it remains a significant issue and is now the largest source of pollution to Scotland’s aqueous environment. Other pressures include fish farming, acidification, forestry and agricultural point sources. The increasing environmental awareness shown by the public and ease of reporting incidents has also helped tackle local environmental issues.

Water quality targets
SEPA first set water quality targets in 1997 on the basis of water quality classification data for 1996. The targets represent planned reductions in the combined length of ’poor’ or ’seriously polluted’ waters. In 2000 SEPA repeated the target setting process. Based on 1999 results, targets were set to further reduce the extent of affected waters by 2006. The process was phased with Scottish Water’s capital investment programmes which specify the investment timetables for improvement of its assets (i.e. sewerage and sewage treatment works).

Headline figures
SEPA classifies over 25,000 km of rivers and canals in Scotland. In 2000 the target was set to reduce the length of poor and seriously polluted rivers from 1,169 km to 818 km by 2006. This target represented a 351 km (30%) reduction. The target was achieved. At the end of 2006 Scotland had only 734 km of these waters, a reduction of 37% since 2000.

SEPA classifies over 800 km² of estuaries in Scotland. In 2000 the target was set to reduce the area of unsatisfactory and seriously polluted estuaries by 6.5 km² (20%) from 32.5 km² to 26 km² by 2006. Although there were improvements, the target was not achieved. New data and assessment methods applied to the Montrose Basin resulted in the downgrading of this estuary.

SEPA classifies almost 12,000 km of coasts in Scotland. In 2000 the target was set to reduce the length of unsatisfactory and seriously polluted coastal waters from 322 km to 176 km by 2006. This target represented a 145 km (45%) reduction. This target was comfortably achieved. At the end of 2006 Scotland had only 90.5 km of these waters, a reduction of 72% since 2000.

SEPA classifies almost 200 of Scotland’s lochs. In 2000 the target was set to achieve no deteriorations in loch water quality by 2005 and specifically to improve water quality in Loch Gelly, Fife. Final figures for the state of Scotland’s lochs will be available in 2008 but Loch Gelly is known to have improved.