Significant Water Management Issues for Scotland

Overview

Scotland is renowned worldwide for the quality of its rivers, lochs, wetlands and seas. They are some of the country’s greatest natural assets: attracting visitors, contributing to the health and well-being of its people, supporting a rich diversity of wildlife and providing for the sustainable growth of its economy.

The climate is changing and we are facing a climate emergency. Protecting and restoring our water environment to build resilience from the effects of the changing climate is essential to allow Scotland to prosper.

River Basin Planning, and the legislation which underpins it, is the main way that this work will be delivered in Scotland. The Significant Water Management Issues report is an important part of this process, as it proposes the main issues which need to be tackled in the third River Basin Plan, between 2021 and 2027. This will bring wider benefits, reducing waste and pollution by improving resource efficiency and increasing resilience to climate change.

This consultation covers the whole of Scotland, including all of the Scotland River Basin District, and the parts of the Solway Tweed River Basin District which lie in Scotland.

Responding online will help us collate and analyse the information you provide and we would prefer responses to be submitted through this tool. This consultation is also available on our website. 

Alternatively, if you are unable to access the online tool, you can respond by email to rbmp@sepa.org.uk or by writing to SEPA at:

SEPA RBMP Unit,
Strathallan House,
Castle Business Park,
Stirling,
FK9 4TZ.

The Environment Agency have also launched a consultation seeking views on the challenges the water environments face and the choices needed to improve and protect this vital and precious resource in England: Water Challenges and Choices Consultation.

This consultation runs from 19 December 2019 to 19 June 2020.