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CHAPTER 3: CONCERNS AND THREATS
3.1 The purpose of this chapter is to look at what the main perceived concerns and threats are for the water environment among the stakeholders and the public.
Stakeholder views
3.2 Among the stakeholders, the biggest threat to Scotland's water environment was overwhelmingly thought to be pollution. This finding corresponds with the results of the international literature review (Dalrymple, 2006). Diffuse pollution, i.e. pollution from widespread activities with no one discrete source, was seen as the main polluter, both from farming and domestic waste.
Diffuse pollution is a huge threat to water quality environment. Things like development and modification is also an issue but it's not an issue that can't be addressed or controlled.
(Stakeholder 10)
The big problem now is diffuse pollution relating principally to agricultural run-off, fish-farming and acidification.
(Stakeholder 2)
I mean, for example, the pollution of phosphate, much of that is coming from domestic shampoos and soaps and detergents, which are very high contributors to phosphate in the environment.
(Stakeholder 5)
3.3 However, diffuse pollution was not thought to be a major problem by all and it was noted that Scotland compares favourably with other countries, e.g. Northern Ireland.
3.4 While point source pollution was thought to be problematic by some, others thought that was effectively dealt with through treatments. Point-source pollution being pollution that can be traced back to a single origin or source such as a sewage treatment plant discharge.
It's easy to control point source pollution because you can treat it at source. But diffuse agricultural run-off and urban pollution is more difficult to control.
(Stakeholder 3)
3.5 Abstraction, i.e. removing water from natural sources, was thought to be problematic because it can alter the flow of rivers and, in some cases, can dry up rivers. As well as disturbing the natural ecology, this can have an effect on recreational uses of water.
Abstraction can impact on the ability to use the river for hydrogeneration because basically it's taken some of the water out so there's lower flow… low flows in rivers which impact on recreation and things.
(Stakeholder 10)
3.6 Stakeholders thought that the public would be concerned about the most visible threats, such as point source pollution, rather than potentially more significant threats like diffuse pollution.
The things that will concern you are the things that are in your own backyard…it really depends on what they're exposed to in terms of level of concern of water environment.
(Stakeholder 3)
Point source pollution…is, in the eyes of the public, the most important thing, so that's the factory discharging into a river and dead fish and that sort of thing.
(Stakeholder 2)
Public views
3.7 The main concern of the public was that drinking water should be of consistently good quality. The main threat was thought to be pollution: for example, from over-development and a variety of specific local issues such as ship to ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.
3.8 All groups emphasised the importance of clean, safe drinking water. Therefore, a principal concern was the degree to which they felt the water supply was being tampered with, for example, by the addition of chlorine and fluoride. Although the chemical quality of the domestic water supply is covered by other legislation, not the WFD, it is important to note the likely dominance of this issue in any discussions about water. The quotes below give a flavour of these views.
Our water's straight from the hills and into the reservoir, it's the freshest water you can get. Then they're putting additives to it with chlorine and whatever and it's making it [water] worse than what it was before it went in.
(Scotlandwell, over 40, C2DE)
There was a big argument about fluoride and it being mass medication and against people's wills and I think that's gone away.
(Aviemore, over 40, ABC1)
3.9 The types of pollution that were thought to threaten the water environment were mainly small-scale pollutants such as rubbish and dog fouling by river sides. Sewage was also mentioned. Participants were most likely to mention concerns that were local to them. Unlike the stakeholders (and as predicted by the stakeholders), diffuse pollution was not identified as a major threat.
Human waste, isn't it…it all gets pumped into the Clyde and that.
(Glasgow, under 40, C2DE)
Rubbish dumped at the side of the roads…and that's polluting the water as well.
(Scotlandwell, over 40, C2DE)
3.10 A concern in several groups was the strain placed on the water environment by over-development. Two aspects were mentioned: the impact on the water supply and the increased amount of sewage and household wastage of water.
3.11 Other concerns were more group-specific. Thus the North Berwick groups were unique in mentioning the prospect of ship to ship oil transfers and the potential effect that could have on sea bird colonies. A concern for the older group in Glasgow was terrorism and whether water supply sources are being policed effectively to prevent tampering with reservoirs.
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