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Thurso’s surfing community shocked over Scottish Water data showing sewage dumps





The surfing community is horrified at the amount of sewage being regularly discharged into Thurso Bay.

The information has come from a new monitor that Scottish Water has installed to give up-to-date information about how the waste water network is performing in the area.

While many flock to take part in national and international competitions around the far north coast, the North Shore Surf Club (NSSC) has been keeping a close eye on the amount of sewage being dumped into the sea at Thurso East.

Jason Simpson, NSCC chairperson, said: “The new information about sewage discharges from Scottish Water’s harbour facility highlights that this issue is way bigger than anyone would have believed.”

The area around Thurso East is popular with wild swimmers and attracts surfers from across the world. Picture: Mike Guest
The area around Thurso East is popular with wild swimmers and attracts surfers from across the world. Picture: Mike Guest

NSCC member, Chris Clarke added: “We’re part of a campaign to get the sewage monitored in Thurso Bay. There is now raw sewage spewing directly into the sea around Thurso East at one of our busiest times of the year for locals and tourists alike to surf here.”

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) released a document stating that since 2006, sewage has been treated at and discharged from Thurso sewage treatment works. It continues: “Prior to this, sewage effluent was discharged to the sea via a long sea outfall in Thurso Bay.

Water treatment plant at Thurso harbour. Picture supplied
Water treatment plant at Thurso harbour. Picture supplied

“The long sea outfall is now used as a combined sewer overflow and spills intermittently during wet weather. During or after extremely high rainfall, diluted effluent can be discharged to the River Thurso at Thurso Headworks. Both of these overflows, together with other intermittent discharges in the area, have the potential to affect the bathing water quality during wet weather.”

Pressure group Surfers Against Sewage has highlighted the issue and used testimonials from numerous people who have suffered health issues after surfing at or around Thurso East where the overflow pipe lies.

Scottish Water map from a few days ago showing that sewage overflow was getting pumped into Thurso Bay for 89 hours. The local surfing community say it is totally unacceptable.
Scottish Water map from a few days ago showing that sewage overflow was getting pumped into Thurso Bay for 89 hours. The local surfing community say it is totally unacceptable.

Local surfing champion Phoebe Strachan shared data with a Scottish Water map showing the sewage overflow was being pumped into the bay for an 89-hour period at the end of last week.

“I think you can agree is just rotten behaviour and totally unacceptable in this day and age,” she added.

In the video, Phoebe talks about the health issues associated with surfing in the polluted water: “If I end up getting sick then I have to take days off my work which means I then don't get paid, which makes paying bills and all those things really difficult. I can't really afford to get sick.”

She says that Scottish Water has been releasing sewage into the river mouth at Thurso usually “after a period of rainfall and the sewage plant can’t cope with the overflow so it discharges directly in the sea”.

“For years there have been no warnings of when they will be discharging which often leads to surfers and other water users getting seriously ill.”

Jason Simpson has been in communication with Scottish Water and Sepa to try and get a system set up warning surfers when this is likely to happen but claims nothing has been put in place yet.

Overflow data from Scottish Water on December 23, 2024, shows that over a 48-hour period, sewage had been pumped into the bay for nearly 33 hours.
Overflow data from Scottish Water on December 23, 2024, shows that over a 48-hour period, sewage had been pumped into the bay for nearly 33 hours.

Speaking on Friday, Phoebe said that she appreciated the transparency from Scottish Water showing maps with live overflow data. “We also understand that it is an old treatment plant that very much needs investment to renew it. However, by sitting back and letting it happen nothing will change."

A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “Across Scotland, we have invested £2.7 billion in improving and maintaining the country’s public drainage system and infrastructure over the past decade, and a further £500m in our Improving Urban Waters Routemap which has seen us install 1000 monitors on our overflows to improve the availability of information for communities across Scotland.

Surfing champion Phoebe Strachan says the water treatment plant at Thurso needs to be upgraded.
Surfing champion Phoebe Strachan says the water treatment plant at Thurso needs to be upgraded.

“These monitors will help give unprecedented levels of information about how the waste water network is performing, helping Scottish Water to avert flooding and pollution and plan targeted investment in future improvements.

“We are taking our customers and stakeholders on this journey with us as we improve our knowledge and invest wisely to make Scotland’s sewer system better and more able to cope with the extreme weather conditions we often face.

“A CSO overflow is designed to release rain and waste water into rivers when it rains heavily. It's mostly rain and water from sinks, showers, baths, washing machines or dishwashers – less than one per cent is toilet water.

“These overflows are intended to operate in response to extreme weather conditions, when the sewer network is overwhelmed by the volume of rainfall, and on these occasions are operating as they should. These overflows are crucial to our wastewater network to help protect customers’ homes and the environment.

“The quality of Scotland’s water environment remains high, with 87 per cent of water bodies classed as good or better.”

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