Environment
Scottish Water is committed to the stewardship of the environment and the principles of Sustainable Development. This commitment lays the foundations for a healthy and sustainable future for our customers and the greater community through addressing customer requirements and ensuring the minimisation of the environmental impacts of our core business activities.
Please use the links on the left under Environment to see how we are meeting our environmental commitments.
Standards and Regulations
Scottish Water supplies water of the highest standard to homes, offices and factories throughout Scotland. It is vital that your water is clean, safe, and available where and when you need it. We also collect wastewater, which is conveyed to treatment works via our sewers before being returned safely to the environment.
With Scottish Water you can be sure that we carry out these duties whilst meeting the strict legal standards required by our regulators.
Drinking Water Quality
We are required under the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 to report annually on the quality of the public water supply. Scottish Water must meet and report on stringent water quality standards, using sophisticated treatment and monitoring. Regulation is carried out by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator.
Wastewater Quality
Scottish Water's discharges are required to meet consent conditions set by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. These are designed to protect the environment and ensure that European Directives such as those for Urban Waste Water Treatment and Bathing Water Quality are fully complied with.
River Basin Management
The Water Environment and Water Services Act 2003 is the enabling legislation for the Water Framework Directive. This allows the development of river basin management planning and enables new controls on water abstraction, engineering works in rivers, point source pollution and diffuse pollution from urban areas and farms.
Environment Policy
Scottish Water accepts that it has an environmental impact through its core business activities of providing safe drinking water and collecting, treating and returning treated wastewater to the environment. Scottish Water is committed to the principles of sustainable development and has a sustainable development policy. The environmental policy is an integral element of the overarching policy.
Scottish Water specifically aims to achieve the following environmental commitments:
- to comply with all relevant environmental legislation and the other obligations to which we subscribe
- to avoid, reduce or control pollution through all our activities
- to continually improve our environmental performance in relation to our activities, products and services
- to set environmental objectives and report on environmental performance toward achieving set targets
- to design and operate our assets in a manner consistent with the efficient use of energy and materials
- to protect and enhance our natural and man-made heritage and recreational opportunities for our customers
- to encourage our staff and customers' understanding and awareness of environmental issues
- to communicate this policy to all employees
