Programme 2016-2022

Industrial estates have long been recognised as significant sources of pollution. Most were built prior to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) being a requirement for new developments, and many have surface water drainage systems conveying the surface water directly to the nearest watercourse. Despite decades of work towards solutions, there remain long-term diffuse pollution problems identified by SEPA ecological monitoring at many sites downstream of industrial estates.

Scotland is seen as leading the way in the implementation of the Floods Directive, particularly with respect to natural flood management (NFM). There is a significant amount of work taking place across Scotland in order to deliver NFM projects and there is a clear need for knowledge exchange (e.g. sharing data and experiences) to aid coordination and avoid duplication. Knowledge exchange is vital if Local Authorities decide to take NFM projects forward to delivery on the ground.

Various studies have shown that land cover in urban areas tends to become more impermeable (e.g. front gardens are paved over) over time; this is often referred to as urban creep. Urban creep is likely to be a significant factor in surface water flood risk in the future. In order to manage flood risk sustainably now and in the future, we need to be able to quantify the rates of urban creep. Various studies have been carried out in the UK in relation to observed rates of urban creep, although few of these were undertaken in Scotland.

Good quality water in shellfish production areas is essential to ensuring a good quality product which is safe for human consumption. The shellfish industry in Scotland helps support fragile remote rural economic communities and also has significant potential for growth, actively supported by Scottish Government.

Models describing the relative contributions of phosphorus (P) from different sources to water bodies (source apportionment) are key tools in determining priorities for mitigation strategies within the River Basin Management Planning process under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Previous source apportionment was simplistic because it was based on total P loads, even though not all P loading has the same ecological significance due to the form or timing of the loading.

Models describing the relative contributions of phosphorus (P) from different sources to water bodies (source apportionment) are key tools in determining priorities for mitigation strategies within the River Basin Management Planning process under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). SEPA have made use of a Diffuse Pollution Screening Tool (DSPT) for quantifying and reporting source apportionment within catchments. However, this methodology is simplistic.

We have recently witnessed some of the worst flooding in living memory in Scotland. We know from previous research (2007 Werritty et al) that the impacts on people’s lives can be devastating and long term. It is essential that we understand these impacts better and consider what types of support and advice people and communities need at different stages of a long term recovery.

As Scotland’s flood warning authority under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, and in undertaking Civil Contingencies Act 2004 Category 1 duties, SEPA produced a Flood Warning Strategy (2012-16) to help deliver a strategic vision of the flood warning service. Specifically the service vision is:

The overall aim of this project is to examine the literature and evidence related to value of water resources to inform the implementation of the duty in the Bill. It must examine the value  of water resources in a Scottish context both in quantitative and qualitative terms.

SEPA have requested a review highlighting examples of monitoring where personal monitors have the potential to be, or currently are, being used for aquatic monitoring. The review should take into account technologies which can be used by field/technical staff and members of the public as part of citizen science initiatives.