Priority catchments

Diffuse Pollution in the Rural Environment

A programme of rural diffuse pollution work started in March 2010, to help deliver the objectives outlined in the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for the Scotland and Solway-Tweed river basin districts.

Diffuse pollution priority catchments have been identified by SEPA as catchments failing to meet environmental standards. Each catchment has a dedicated coordinator who is responsible for liaising with local land managers, organising visits and ensuring measures are implemented where non-compliances are identified as detailed within the Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan for Scotland. This approach was agreed in partnership with the Diffuse Pollution Management Advisory Group (DPMAG).

Due to the progress made the programme was significantly expanded in 2015 and an updated Diffuse pollution plan published in 2017.

The first and second cycles of the RBMP identified 57 priority catchments containing some of Scotland’s most important waters (for conservation, drinking water, bathing and fishing), using a risk-based approach for action.

The priority catchments

SEPA has appointed dedicated priority catchment co-ordinators to investigate the issues each catchment faces and liaise with local land managers to implement the measures. The priority catchment work is a key element of the Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan for Scotland.

The priority catchments identified for this work are listed below along with the lead contact from SEPA.

Catchment	Cycle	Lead	Contact email
Dee	1	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Deveron	1	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Ugie	1	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Buchan	1	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Stonehaven Coastal	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Nairn	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Lossie	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Moray	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Banff Coastal	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Inverness Coastal	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Cromarty Coastal	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Don	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Ythan	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
Wick and Thurso	2	Peter Wright	peter.wright@sepa.org.uk
River Ayr	1	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
River Doon	1	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
North Ayrshire Coastal	1	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
Irvine	1	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
Garnock	1	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
Girvan	2	Bruce McCleary	bruce.mccleary@sepa.org.uk
Eye Water	1	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
River South Esk (Tayside)	1	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
River Tay	1	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
River Tweed (Lower)	2	Susan Arnott	susan.arnott@sepa.org.uk
River Tweed (Upper)	2	Susan Arnott	susan.arnott@sepa.org.uk
Whiteadder Water	2	Susan Arnott	susan.arnott@sepa.org.uk
East Lothian Coastal	2	Susan Arnott	susan.arnott@sepa.org.uk
River Esk (Lothian)	2	Susan Arnott	susan.arnott@sepa.org.uk
River Tyne	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
River Eden	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
North Fife Coastal	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
South Fife Coastal	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
Dighty Water	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
Dundee Coastal	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
River Leven	2	Wull Dryburgh	will.dryburgh@sepa.org.uk
Galloway Coastal	1	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Stewartry Coastal	1	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
River Dee (D&G)	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
River Urr	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Dumfries Coastal	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Lochar	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
River Annan	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Annan Coastal	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Gretna Coastal	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
River Esk (Solway)	2	Jackie McColm	jacqueline.mccolm@sepa.org.uk
Earn Coastal	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
River Earn	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
Stirling Coastal	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
River North Esk (Tayside)	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
Lunan Water	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
River Forth	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
Forth Estuary (South Coastal)	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.
River Almond	2	TBC	nationalrural@sepa.org.uk.

Compliance with environment legislation relating to diffuse pollution has increased significantly following implementation. By working with farmers, land managers and representatives from the sector the benefits to reaching compliance and beyond can be highlighted resulting in both improvements to the environment and business. Follow up compliance visits in the catchment monitor the progress that is made and where uptake in compliance is slow, officers work with the businesses concerned.

All rural land users have a responsibility to ensure they are working in line with the Diffuse Pollution General Binding Rules (DP GBRs) under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Details of the GBRs relevant to diffuse pollution are available on the Farming and Water Scotland website and other associated guidance is available below:

Useful links