Water quality on Scottish beaches declines
BBC
Reviewed Jun 30, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Thomas Bell said MCS knows of at least 135 Scottish coastal sites that have one or more combined‑sewer overflow pipes.
at least 135 · Scottish coastal sites with combined‑sewer overflow pipes
Thomas Bell, MCS coastal pollution officer
Calum Duncan said MCS is recommending 39 beaches for excellent water quality in the current year.
39 · Scottish beaches recommended for excellent water quality this year
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager
Thomas Bell reported that 63 % of tested beaches are not recommended by MCS because of pollution.
63 % · tested beaches not recommended by MCS because of pollution
Thomas Bell, MCS coastal pollution officer
Calum Duncan advised beachgoers to stay out of the sea for at least 48 hours after heavy storms.
48 hours · minimum time to stay out of the sea after heavy storms
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager
Results were unavailable for six west‑Highland beaches that had been recommended in the previous year's guide.
6 · west‑Highland beaches with no available results
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recommended 39 Scottish bathing beaches for excellent water quality, which is two less than last year.
39 beaches · Scottish bathing beaches recommended for excellent water quality2 beaches · less beaches recommended
Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
Data from the Met Office found that the summers between 2007 to 2009 were the wettest period since 1914 for the UK as a whole.
1914 year · wettest period since
Met Office
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recommended 56 beaches in 2004, which was a peak for bathing water quality in Scotland.
56 beaches · beaches recommended
Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is concerned that new stricter bathing water standards will be introduced in 2015.
2015 year · introduction of new stricter bathing water standards
The society
Under new stricter bathing water standards, 28 of the 105 Scottish beaches tested will fail the new minimum water quality standard if no improvements are made.
28 beaches · beaches that will fail new minimum water quality standard105 beaches · Scottish beaches tested
Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) knows of at least 135 Scottish coastal sites with one or more combined sewer overflow pipes.
at least 135 sites · Scottish coastal sites with one or more pipes
MCS
63% of tested beaches are not recommended by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) due to pollution, a percentage which is set to go higher with tougher standards from 2015.
63 % · tested beaches not recommended due to pollution2015 year · tougher standards from
Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager, stated that MCS is recommending 39 beaches for excellent water quality this year.
39 beaches · beaches recommended for excellent water quality
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) advises people to do three things, including staying out of the sea for at least 48 hours after heavy storms.
3 things · advised actionsat least 48 hours · stay out of sea after heavy storms
MCS
The quality of bathing water at Scotland's beaches has declined, the Good Beach Guide has found.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recommended 39 Scottish bathing beaches for excellent water quality - two less than last year.
The tests were conducted from June to September 2009, which was particularly wet.
Fewer beaches met MCS standards because heavy summer rains had carried raw sewage out through overflow pipes.
Data from the Met Office found that the summers between 2007 to 2009 were the wettest period since 1914 for the UK as a whole.
The latest survey found that bathing water quality in Scotland has been declining since a peak in 2004, when MCS recommended 56 beaches - almost half of all sites tested.
The society is concerned that the current situation in Scotland may further deteriorate when new stricter bathing water standards are introduced in 2015.
Under this new regime, 28 of the 105 Scottish beaches tested will fail the new minimum water quality standard if nothing is done to improve them.
Thomas Bell, MCS coastal pollution officer, said: "Our campaign work is focused now on the degree to which combined sewer overflows are to blame for bathing water pollution and what can be done about it.
"Scotland has a large network of these pipes on the coast which are designed to carry sewage out of flooded sewer systems and deposit it in rivers or the sea.
"MCS knows of at least 135 Scottish coastal sites with one or more of these pipes.
"There are many places where they don't cause a problem but 63% of tested beaches aren't recommended by MCS because of pollution, a percentage which is set to go higher with tougher standards from 2015."
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager added: "We're recommending 39 beaches for excellent water quality this year, which is good, but poor quality bathing water carries health risks.
"MCS advises people to use the Good Beach Guide and do three things; pick bathing beaches with a good water quality record, stay out of the sea at any beach for at least 48 hours after heavy storms and report pollution problems to us via the Good Beach Guide website."
Results were not available for six beaches in the west Highlands, all of which were MCS recommended in last year's guide.
