Caithness.org News Bulletins
Water News Index

Water Links

* Figures changed from those previously reported due to inclusion of toxic substances classification.

A1 = excellent
A2 = good
B = fair
C = poor
D = seriously polluted
U = unclassified

Main points
The main stems of many of the largest rivers in the area have maintained their ‘good’ quality classification, or better. The substantial river quality improvements recorded 1999-2001 have been maintained, with a smaller overall improvement recorded in 2002. Some stretches have improved, but most of these have fluctuated in class for several years.

On the positive side, the Gillock Burn near Thurso, Linkwood Burn near Elgin and Diney Burn South of Aberdeen all recorded improvement, but 5km of the Murkle Burn, near Thurso deteriorated from A2 in 2000 to B in 2001 and now C in 2002. There are no classification records for this stretch before 2000. Investigations as to the causes of the downgrading are ongoing.

The main change in river classification has been the first-time assessment of nearly 3000km of ‘new’ rivers. The north of Scotland contains nearly half of Scotland’s rivers (in terms of length), many in remote areas, and carrying out a complete classification is a major task. The unclassified stretches are generally believed to be of good quality, but may be subject to unrecorded local pressures. SEPA hopes that remaining significant stretches will be classified by 2006.

A = excellent
B = good
C = unsatisfactory
D = seriously polluted

Main points
The generally high quality of estuarine waters in the north of Scotland has been maintained.

Cromarty Firth, near Invergordon

The area near the harbour and the pier that served the former Alcan aluminium smelters improved from class B to class A, because of reductions in tributyl tin (TBT) levels, which are a legacy of activity there.

Inverness Firth, near Allanfearn

This area improved from class B to class A, following improvements to the sewage works that serves Inverness.

Ythan estuary

Nutrient enrichment from farming in the catchment causes excessive algal growth in the estuary. The whole catchment is designated as a ‘nitrate vulnerable zone’ with a programme of action to reduce the amount of fertiliser released into the environment. However, it will take several years for there to be any evidence of improvement.

Aberdeen, River Dee estuary

Minor oil spills in the harbour are responsible for this area remaining class C. An action plan is scheduled for 2003 – 2004 to deliver improvements.

A = excellent
B = good
C = unsatisfactory
D = seriously polluted

Main points
Generally, there have been many improvements in sewage treatment, and these should help ensure we achieve the 2006 quality targets throughout the North of Scotland. In particular, most of the major PFI schemes serving the main population centres from Inverness to Aberdeen have now been completed.

Loch Portree
2km has improved from class C to class B, following the connection of an unsatisfactory sewage discharge to the main sewer system.

Thurso Bay
2.3km upgraded from class C to class B.

Dunnet Bay (Castlehill)
3.2km of class C has improved to class B, due to improvements in sewage treatment. SEPA staff also inspected local farms and recommended minor improvements to reduce their environmental impact.

Wick harbour
The harbour has improved from class C to class B because there are fewer oil spills and less rubbish.

Fraserburgh
1.5km improved from class D to class B because 12 untreated sewage discharges have been removed and a new high performance treatment plant is in operation.

Lossiemouth
1km improved from class C to class B after RAF Lossiemouth installed oil interceptors and Scottish Water upgraded the Coulardbank surface water sewer.

Johnshaven
2km improved from class C to class B following the provision of sewage screens.

Western Isles
Three short stretches (Ashdail Cottages, Bayhead and Leverburgh) have been downgraded to class C following the observation of sewage debris on the shore. Another short stretch in West Loch Tarbert was downgraded to class C because of large quantities of litter.

Loch Leven, Lochaber
24km of the loch remains class C due to elevated levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments.

Peterhead Lido
In 2002 0.3km was downgraded from class B to class C because it failed bathing water standards. This was probably a one-off event caused by a sewage pumping station malfunction. The station has been refurbished and the results from this year’s monitoring show a return to previous years’ excellent standards.