Popular Scottish beaches 'polluted with human and animal faeces'
Swimming spots across Scotland tested positive for bacteria found in waste.
New research has revealed that many of Scotland's beaches are "polluted with human and animal waste". Some of the swimming destinations singled out have previously been rated as having 'good' or 'excellent' water quality.
On Sunday, November 2, The Ferret published an investigation into the quality of Scotland's wild swimming spots. According to the independent non-profit media cooperative, 46 out of the country’s 89 designated bathing destinations tested positive for unsafe levels of E. coli or intestinal enterococci. The designated swimming spots welcome regular swimmers and paddlers.
Both E. coli and intestinal enterococci can be found in human and animal waste. They can lead to stomach bugs, ear and eye infections, and various other ailments.
According to The Ferret, the wild swimming spot in Scotland that tested worst is Irvine Beach in Ayrshire. Although the beach's water quality has been rated as 'excellent', it saw the highest E. coli reading in the whole of the country.
The Ferret analysed yearly statistics published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which examines pollution of wild swimming destinations in Scotland over the summer. According to the experts, water is said to be of low quality—and Scots are advised not to swim—if the amount of E. coli and intestinal enterococci are discovered to exceed specific thresholds.
On July 7, E. coli levels at Irvine were found to be more than 15 times the safe limit. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency states that sewer overflow may have a "significant impact on the water quality" at the beach, though the agency says that this "normally" takes place only amidst rainfall.
Other beaches in Scotland that were found to have unsafe faecal bacteria samples include South Beach in Ayr, Harbour Beach in Kinghorn, and Lossiemouth East Beach in Moray. All were recorded as having five unsafe samples.
Elsewhere, other beaches along the Ayrshire coast such as Troon and Prestwick also had multiple samples that tested positive for low water quality. According to The Ferret, both have previously been categorised as 'excellent' bathing waters.
Across the country, sewer overflow is a major cause of contaminated water. However, other sources of contamination include farm run-off, dog waste, and bird droppings.
Beaches in Scotland
In Scotland, 87 per cent of bathing waters in Scotland are currently classed as either 'good' or 'excellent'. This compares with 85 and 94 per cent for England and Wales respectively.
Speaking to The Ferret, a Scottish Government spokesperson commented: "97 per cent of Scotland’s bathing waters currently achieve the bathing water quality standards with 87 per cent being rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
"We encourage everyone to make use of Sepa’s resources and information to help make an informed decision about where and when to bathe.
"We also encourage beach users to continue to take all waste and litter home, and dispose of dog waste responsibly."
See below for the list of the 10 beaches in Scotland with the most unsafe faecal bacteria samples according to The Ferret. More information can be found on The Ferret website.
The Scottish beaches with the worst faecal contamination
- Irvine
- Ayr (South Beach)
- Kinghorn (Harbour Beach)
- Lossiemouth (East)
- Dhoon Bay
- Dunbar (East)
- Maidens
- Portobello (West)
- Rockcliffe
- Sandyhills