Sewage
I am deeply concerned by the constituently poor water quality in Portobello and Musselburgh. In June 2026, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) downgraded Fisherrow Sands to ‘poor’ and Portobello Beach to ‘sufficient’. Our community deserves to enjoy the bathing water on their doorsteps, without the worry around pollution and safety. Residents and wildlife deserve clean beaches and bathing water free from pollution. Here is the work I have been doing to clean up our beaches and keep them clear from sewage.
Our beaches are home to amazing wildlife. I regularly attend litter picks and beach clean ups where I am appalled at the amount of sewage waste we find, we are constantly picking up wet wipes, that have been washed up on our beach from the sewage in the water. Both Fisherrow and Portobello are designated bathing waters, however, residents cannot enjoy the beautiful beaches on their doorstep if the water is polluted. The Scottish Government must commit to not only monitoring our water quality but actually improving it.
In June 2026, three sewage leaks occurred in Portobello. As a result, pollution levels in the water rose to an extent that residents were advised to stay out of the sea.
It is unacceptable that SEPA continues to monitor overflows without taking sufficient action to ensure water quality is improved.
I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are deeply concerned and upset about these repeated sewage overflows and the impact they are having on the local environment and public health.
In response to these concerns, I have written to the Chief Executive of SEPA to seek urgent clarification on the measures being taken to address this issue and prevent further incidents. A copy of my letter is included here.
You can read what I have to say about this important issue by following these links: