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Data returns Many environmental licences include a requirement to submit data returns or other reporting requirements on an annual or quarterly basis. What should you do? We are now actively reviewing many of the data returns and kindly request you to submit any outstanding returns for the following areas: Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) - SPRI returns are due by the 28th of February e

There are a number of significant environmental problems caused by a number of pressures, including diffuse and point source pollution, alterations to beds, banks and shores, alterations to water levels and flows and the presence of invasive non-native species. In order to measure these pressures and their potential effects, we use an aquatic classification system which covers rivers, lochs, estuaries, coastal and groundwater bodies. These are split into management units called water bodies, with a classification produced for each body (the number of water bodies between years varies slightly, as some water body boundaries are reviewed to ensure that they can be managed appropriately). We produce an annual Water Framework Directive (WFD) Classification for all the water bodies in Scotland. Classification results for 2007 to the current year can be found on the Water Classification Hub. Read the State of Scotland's Water Environment 2024 summary report (MS Word, 1.17 MB). Most of our water environment is already in a good condition and subject to fewer pressures than most other E

Water Column Monitoring Please note: the manual is currently being updated and links have been supplied for revised documents only. If you require a copy of a document that is not available below please email aquaculture@sepa.org.uk. This manual has been produced to provide SEPA staff with detailed guidance on the legislation, policy and procedures which should be considered when regulating Scotla

Links Acronyms and abbreviations Glossary of terms European Waste Catalogue – for coding waste NACE and SIC codes Recovery and Disposal codes* Scottish Government guidance on applying the waste hierarchy Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS) areas(14kb) Waste strategy areas(86kb) *Recovery and Disposal codes Waste management activities are classed as recovery (R) or disposal (D

Legislation directs SEPA to assess and classify each shellfish protected area. To deliver this we work closely with Food Standards Scotland (FSS). FSS sample, analyse and report water quality in production areas throughout the year to ensure shellfish are safe for consumption, or determine if they require further treatment. At the end of each year FSS provide SEPA with this data who use it to clas

Forms and information Reservoir (Scotland) Act 2011 blank registration form All new reservoirs, and any reservoirs regulated under the Reservoirs Act 1975 are required to be registered with SEPA. To register your reservoir with SEPA please use the registration form. Ceasing to be a reservoir manager If you cease to be the manager of a registered controlled reservoir, you are required to notify us

The majority of dams will require an authorisation from SEPA under "The Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR). This authorisation number will start CAR/.../... If you don't have a CAR authorisation for your dam, then you should contact your local SEPA team to discuss this. You can find more advice on impoundments and water resources authorisations on our Enviro

Further technical guidance This page brings together a number of ancillary guidance documents and previous email bulletin information relating to modelling of marine fish-farms for CAR licence applications. Auxiliary biomass sampling transect In areas where the tidal residual current is weak, the auxiliary transect (site-specific sampling 2) may be aligned along a bearing reciprocal to the primary

Our vision is for towns and cities to use nature-based, blue-green solutions to absorb and safely convey rainwater. This will: help strengthen their resilience to the intense downpours they face under climate change minimise the risk of polluting sewage spills by keeping rainwater out of sewers create fantastic places for people to live and work Urban wastewaters Over the past 20 years, SEPA has

Frequently asked questions Why is a sea lice framework needed? Populations of wild Atlantic salmon have been in serious decline in recent decades and are now at crisis point. The pattern of decline is repeated across the salmon’s North Atlantic range and is likely caused, at least in part, by the effect of climate change on the survival of salmon during their time at sea. To build resilience of Sc