Scotland's lochs and rivers are plunged into water quality row

They are the veins of the Scottish nation, pumping at the heart of fishing, farming, industry and whisky.

They are the veins of the Scottish nation, pumping at the heart of fishing, farming, industry and whisky.

But now Scotland's rivers are at the centre of a critical new report which brands many of our best-known waterways unfit for purpose.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) yesterday outlined the monumental challenges that lie ahead if the nation's water is to be brought up to meet high international standards.

In line with European Water Development Framework (WDF) legislation, more than 95% of Scotland's wet areas have been assessed on a quality scale ranging from "high" to "bad".

Over half (57%) of the country's total have passed in one of the top categories, achieving "good" or better, but as many as 38% failed to achieve this level.

A number of Scotland's most beautiful and iconic spots, including Loch Lomond and the Tay and Spey rivers, fall short, while long stretches of urban waterway remain in the lowest possible quality bracket.

A Sepa spokeswoman said the current situation "provides an excellent basis for our future livelihoods, economy and recreation" But she added: "Support is needed to deliver further improvements for a sustainable water environment from now and into the future."

Current predictions suggest that a number of key rivers and canals will fail to meet ambitious goals set for 2015.

The Sepa spokeswoman said: "The main reasons water bodies would be expected not to reach the required standards by 2015 are agricultural diffuse pollution, where rain water collects pollution as it runs off agricultural land and into water courses, and morphological changes, which means engineering works such as culverting or straightening."

But in what it called a "milestone" report, Sepa yesterday announced proposals that would result in an additional 10% of Scotland's rivers and lochs surpassing the highest levels of cleanliness in years to come. The draft plans detail actions to be taken by a range of agencies, industry, non-governmental organisations and individuals to improve Scotland's waters up to the year 2015 and beyond.

Environmental chiefs, in accordance with the principles of the European framework, have set a target of every waterway in Scotland meeting criteria for "good" or "high" quality by 2015. To achieve this level, they must show evidence of little or no human impact.

Declaring the beginning of a "new era" in managing Scotland's river basin environment, the report notes the economic importance of the country's rivers, and the comparatively strong starting position relative to other areas in Britain.

It says: "The Scotland river basin district has fewer environmental problems than most others in the UK. The good quality of many of its waters supports tourism, some of the best salmon runs in the UK and a wide range of businesses that rely on quality water.

"Many of its waters are identified as protected areas because of their importance for nature conservation, economically important species of fish or shellfish, bathing or drinking water supply. It is therefore vital for us to protect our valuable water environment and, wherever possible, prevent our waters from deteriorating.

"We have dramatically reduced water pollution over the past few decades resulting in major improvements in the quality of our waters. However, the Water Framework Directive requires us to consider impacts that go beyond pollution and also consider the impacts of water abstraction, impoundment, engineering activities and invasive non-native species."

The draft document, along with two Scottish Government papers - Scotland's Water: Future Directions and Restoration of the Water Environment - have now been put out for public consultation, in advance of a final report being issued in December, 2009.

Colin Bayes, Sepa director of environmental protection and improvement, said: "Effectively involving others has been key to developing the draft plans; we are eager to ensure that as many people as possible are involved in helping to achieve the ambitious goals set out. All who manage and impact on the water environment need to continue to work together to carry out a programme of measures to achieve improvements."

The consultation plan is available on the Sepa website, along with a quality map of Scotland's waterways and coastlines, and will run until June 22, 2009.

The report