SEPA Opens National Consultation on Scotland’s Water Environment
Garve and District Community Council
Added at 18:16 on 10 December 2025
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is inviting people across Scotland to help shape the future of the country’s rivers, lochs and coastal waters. A new public consultation, Safeguarding Scotland’s Water Environment, has now launched, focusing on the most pressing challenges currently affecting the nation’s water systems.
The consultation centres on what SEPA classifies as Significant Water Management Issues – problems that are already having a marked negative effect on water quality and ecological health, and which require coordinated action to address.
The consultation is open until 3 March 2026.
Why Scotland’s Water Environment Matters
Scotland’s waters are among the country’s greatest natural assets. They support a diverse range of species, play an important role in public health and wellbeing, and underpin the sustainable growth of sectors across the national economy.
To guide the next six-year cycle of water management planning, SEPA’s specialists have highlighted seven priority areas:
- Rural diffuse pollution – pollutants entering the environment from scattered sources, such as agricultural run-off
- Physical condition of rivers – ensuring river channels and banks remain healthy and functioning
- Barriers to fish migration – man-made structures such as dams, weirs, culverts, water storage systems and transport crossings
Sea lice from marine fish farms - Water use and abstraction – protecting water resources in a changing climate and keeping consumption within environmental limits
- Wastewater and sewer networks
- Chemicals entering the water environment
These themes reflect complex, long-standing issues. SEPA’s consultation details both the focused work already underway and the updated approach proposed for the next planning period, taking account of changing environmental and climate conditions.
Why Community Input Matters
SEPA emphasises that insights from local communities are vital. Public feedback will help ensure future plans take account of lived experience, local knowledge and a broad range of perspectives.
Participants are encouraged to share views on the identified water management issues and to comment on how this work can contribute to climate adaptation, nature recovery, and community health and wellbeing.
Part of Scotland’s River Basin Management Planning
The findings from this consultation will inform Scotland’s River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) process – the national, six-yearly framework for protecting and enhancing the water environment. A further round of consultation on the new RBMP will take place in December 2026, with the current planning cycle concluding in December 2027.
Have Your Say
Read the report Safeguarding Scotland's Water Environment
The Safeguarding Scotland’s Water Environment consultation is live now on SEPA’s consultation hub. Community members are encouraged to take part and ensure local voices are heard in shaping the future of Scotland’s waters.