Statements : 2016
Flooding outlook - 23 December
Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
"Due to windy and wet conditions, there is risk of localised flooding inland and along the coast over the coming days, from today until Sunday. However the weather is not unusual for this time of year, and we do not expect to see widespread flooding.
"High winds are expected to br Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - 22 December
Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
"Due to windy and wet conditions, there is risk of localised flooding inland and along the coast over the coming days, from Friday to Sunday. However the weather is not unusual for this time of year, and we do not expect to see widespread flooding.
"Tomorrow (Friday) through to Su Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 22 November
David Faichney, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
"There is a risk of flooding in some areas of the Scottish Borders and East Lothian today (22 November). Flooding to low lying agricultural areas and roads is occurring. There may also be some isolated property flooding in the areas worst affected.
“Tributaries of the River Tweed Read the full statement
ERRATUM to the CAS 2015 results
ERRATUM TO THE CAS 2015 RESULTS
Following the publishing of 2015 Compliance Assessment Scheme (CAS) results on Thursday 10 November, we have made a number of amendments and corrections. A list of these sites and there amended compliance rating for 2015 are provided below.
The press release (“ Read the full statement
North Berwick (West) bathing water (2)
A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
SEPA has taken further investigatory samples at North Berwick (West) bathing water this week after a previous sample (taken on 15 August) showed a level of pollution to be present.
“SEPA’s analysis of these latest samples has shown that there h Read the full statement
North Berwick (West) bathing water (1)
A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
The water quality at North Berwick (West) has a good classification, however a sample taken at the bathing water on 1 August 2016 showed that pollution was present at an elevated level.
“Extensive investigations and additional sampling have tak Read the full statement
North Berwick (West) bathing water
A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
SEPA takes water quality samples at each designated bathing water throughout the bathing season (1 June to 15 September).
“The water quality at North Berwick (West) has a good classification, however a sample taken at the bathing water on 1 Aug Read the full statement
Update on Aberdeen Western Periphery Route silt pollution incident
Calum MacDonald, Executive Director of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
Following extensive discussions with AWPR contractors and Transport Scotland, certain activities on the project have now been authorised to restart work. These include areas which are likely to have no impact on the local environme Read the full statement
Investigation of Aberdeen Western Periphery Route (AWPR) following significant silt pollution
Calum MacDonald, Executive Director of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
SEPA officers have been investigating multiple reports of significant silt pollution in watercourses surrounding the Aberdeen Western Periphery Route (AWPR), following heavy downpours last night. The pollution appears to have resul Read the full statement
Discharge of sewage effluent to the River Clyde in the Tradeston area - UPDATED STATEMENT
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been advised by Scottish Water that work to resolve an operational issue within the foul sewer network, which had resulted in the discharge of sewage effluent to the River Clyde in the Tradeston area, has now been completed.
Should the public have concerns about any discharges to the R Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - 16:45
Marc Becker, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager said:
A flood alert is currently in force for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.
“The River Deveron, the middle reaches of the River Don and the lower reaches of the River Dee are rising due to heavy rainfall. This means that some localised flooding of low lying land and roads i Read the full statement
Reports of a burning type odour in the Leith area
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Edinburgh City Council have been receiving complaints from members of the public reporting a burning type odour in the Leith area.
We understand this is causing concern in the local community and we are working with the operators of Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works in order to reso Read the full statement
Discharge of sewage effluent to the River Clyde in the Tradeston area
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is aware of emergency work being undertaken by Scottish Water to resolve an operational issue within the foul sewer network which is resulting in the discharge of sewage effluent to the River Clyde in the Tradeston area. SEPA will continue to monitor the environmental impact of the discharges dur Read the full statement
BP Kinneil (1)
We are aware of the flaring from BP Kinneil at Grangemouth. The flaring is due to the restarting of the plant and they are in the process of returning to normal operation. SEPA will be following up with the company on this incident.
Read the full statementWhitesands Flood Protection Scheme
We are aware that there is, quite rightly, a lot of local interest in the proposed Whitesands
Flood Protection Scheme (FPS), and we wanted to take this opportunity to allay
some concerns members of the public may have about this.
SEPA has been involved in the Whitesands FPS process for a number of years in
line with our
Read the full statement
New SEPA board member appointed
Scottish Ministers have today announced the appointment of Franceska van Dijk as a new board member of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
SEPA Chair, Bob Downes, said:
I’m very pleased to welcome Franceska as the newest member of SEPA’s Board. The breadth of experience and acumen which Franceska brings Read the full statement
Report published on particle retrieval work at Dounreay
SEPA has today (17 March) published a report into the retrieval of offshore radioactive particles by the Dounreay nuclear facility. The report has been produced by the Particles Retrieval Advisory Group (PRAG) and developed by independent experts following an extensive research and monitoring programme in 2012.
The group was Chaired by Pr Read the full statement
New SEPA Deputy Chair appointed
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) welcomes the Scottish Government’s formal confirmation that Professor Lesley Sawers has been appointed as SEPA’s new Deputy Chair. Lesley has been a SEPA Board member since 1 January 2012.
SEPA Chair, Bob Downes, said:
“I am delighted Lesley has been appointed SEPA Depu Read the full statement
New charging scheme will drive improvements in environmental performance
A new charging scheme designed to improve the environmental performance of all regulated sectors of business and industry in Scotland has been announced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The new scheme will come into force on 1 April 2016.
Details of how the Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 16 February
Marc Becker, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
There is a risk of river and surface water flooding in south west Scotland from Tuesday evening into Wednesday due to a period of heavy rain and snowmelt.
“River levels are expected to remain high into Wednesday and this may result in flood impacts affecting communities Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 2 February
Nigel Goody, Hydrology Duty Manager for SEPA, said:
Parts of the Highlands continue to receive heavy rainfall which isn’t expected to clear eastwards until later this afternoon. The severe gales experienced overnight are now gradually easing, however gale force winds will continue across western parts until evening. Some prol Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 1 February
Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
The Severe weather with high winds and wintry showers will affect most of Scotland today. Long spells of heavy rain will develop in the West and NorthwestHighlands this evening and last until Tuesday afternoon. With snow melt and heavy rainfall at times, there is a potential Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 31 January
Pascal Lardet, from SEPA's Flood Unit, said:
The Met Office has forecast that rain will push in from the southwest tonight and will be heaviest in northwest Scotland. The weather remains unsettled for the week ahead, with a risk of flooding affecting most parts of Scotland from Monday.
"On Monday, due to a combination Read the full statement
Flood outlook -29 January
Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
There is a risk of surface water, river and coastal flooding across many parts of Scotland today. Overnight, we have seen cumulative rainfall of 20mm or more (up to 70 mm in West Highland). The heavy rainfall is clearing around midday.
“Storm force winds, along with Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 28 January
Pascal Lardet, from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Flood Unit, said:
Heavy and persistent rainfall is forecast by the Met Office to affect most of Scotland from late evening today and into Friday morning, with severe gales also developing by Friday morning.
“We expect some river and surface water flooding Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 27 January
Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
High river levels in the Scottish Borders - particularly the Teviot and Jed Waters - are currently causing flooding problems, with Hawick and Jedburgh being severely impacted.
"This has resulted in SEPA issuing a Severe Flood W Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 26 January
Richard Brown, SEPA’s Head of Hydrology, said:
As a result of persistent rainfall this morning, localised flooding of low lying areas and disruption to travel may occur today across the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Skye and Lochaber, Argyll and Bute, Central, Tayside, Angus and southern Aberdeenshire.
“A co Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 25 January
Pascal Lardet, from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Flood Unit, said:
Following Met Office forecasts of heavy rain and wind spreading across Scotland from the west today (Monday 25 Jan), SEPA is predicting potential coastal flooding impacts later on Monday into Tuesday, primarily in the south and south west.
Read the full statement
New SEPA Chair appointed
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) welcomes the Scottish Government’s formal confirmation that Bob Downes has been appointed as SEPA’s new Chair. His four year appointment began on 1 January 2016, following the retirement of Chairman David Sigsworth on 31 December 2015 after two terms in office.
Bob Downes has been a SEPA B Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 10 January
Nigel Goody, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
“Outbreaks of rain and hill snow will affect the north and western areas on Sunday, with a band of more persistent rain through the Central Lowlands for a time. At present, the rest of the week is forecast tobe generally cold and showery, with the showers most fr Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 9 January
Nigel Goody, Hydrology Duty Manager for SEPA, said:
A mainly dry start expected for today, before a band of rain and hill snow spreads from the south this afternoon. This initial band of rainfall will clear to the North of Scotland and bring scattered widespread showers of around 15mm. Another area of heavier rain will spread Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 8 January - 10:50am
Nigel Goody, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
“Persistent rainfall yesterday has affected much of North East Scotland from Fife to Moray –in particular areas of Tayside, Angus and Aberdeenshire. This has resulted in widespread rainfall totals of around 50mm and up to 70mm on higher ground. As these totals have fallen on areas which ar Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 7 January
Nigel Goody, Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
“Heavy rainfall and hill snow will affect much of Scotland on Thursday, especially over eastern Tayside, Angus and Aberdeenshire. While the rain will become more showery across the southwest, it will persist in north eastern areas where very high totals of up to 80mm are expected during the nex Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - 18.30
Nigel Goody, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
“The saturated conditions across Aberdeenshire, Tayside and Angus have caused significant flooding during Thursday, which will continue overnight into Friday. Prolonged heavy rain throughout today has caused river levels to rise again, with peak times expected to be late tonight and early Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 6 January
David Faichney, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
A brief period of relative calm is forecast for today with only occasional rainfall over parts of eastern Scotland and some snow on higher ground in Tayside, Angus and Grampian. This respite however is due to be short lived, as a more persistent band of rain arrives overni Read the full statement
Perth flood update - 5 January
Pascal Lardet, Hydrology Duty Manager for SEPA said:
Yesterday (4 January) the Perth flood prevention scheme was activated following the forecast of very high flows in the River Tay. At about 5pm, SEPA received reports that there had been some overtopping of the River Tay onto paths on the embankment adjacent to North Muirton Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 5 January
David Faichney, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager, said:
Rain will continue over eastern Scotland during the rest of Tuesday, turning increasingly to snow on hills above 500 metres in parts of Tayside and Angus. Current forecasts indicate slightly drier conditions on Wednesday prior to a heavier and more persistent band of rain, Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 04 January
Vincent Fitzsimons, SEPA’s Hydrology Duty Manager said:
Due to the persistent rainfall since Friday, river levels have been rising over the weekend, particularly across Tayside, Angus and southern Aberdeenshire. Some rivers have already peaked, most will peak over the course of Monday, but all will stay high Read the full statement
Perth Flood update - 4 January
Vincent Fitzsimons, Hydrology Duty Manager for SEPA, said:
Recent heavy rain has led to prolonged high river levels in the lower Tay, including where the watercourse passes through Perth. Although water levels in tributaries upstream are falling, the Tay at Perth is due to peak from 11pm this evening, and river levels will re Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - 3 January
Vincent Fitzsimons, Hydrology Duty Manager said:
“Persistent rain has been predominantly affecting the north-east of the country since Friday night. Rivers have been rising since Saturday and flood warnings have been issued. It’s important to note that the rain is less intense but more prolonged than during storm Frank. This means that Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - 1 January
Vincent Fitzsimons, Hydrology Duty Manager said:
“Storm Frank saw exceptional flooding across large parts of Scotland. Some communities are still
affected but rivers levels are falling across most of Scotland. At the peak of
Storm Frank there were over 100 flood warnings in place. As of lunchtime on 1st
January, there are n
Read the full statement