Public health concerns have been raised over the release of untreated human waste into Scotland’s waters.

An investigation by The Ferret revealed that, in 2021, untreated human waste was dumped into Scotland’s waters more than 10,000 times. 

It was also found that 49 out of 87 designated bathing waters recorded levels of faecal bacteria over the summer.

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has now written to the Scottish Government to ask what action was being taken to prevent the practice.

He said sewage being dumped was “jeopardising public health and endangering lives”.

Cole-Hamilton, who raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, said: “Raw sewage is being routinely dumped into our rivers every day, and it’s the government’s own water company that’s behind it.

“Scottish Water is only required to monitor three per cent of sewage release points, so the true figure will be far worse than 10,000 releases a year.”

Want to see more SNP fails? – Health Matters