On May 17th, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) led their most extensive national day of action to date.
Across 43 locations, thousands of ocean defenders took part in synchronised Paddle-Outs, all rallying around a single, urgent call: #EndSewagePollution.
SAS revealed that, in 2024, Scotland’s waters endured 23,498 recorded sewage discharges, lasting a combined total of 208,377 hours.
However, these monitored incidents represent just 6.7% of the national sewage infrastructure. The remaining 93.3% of overflows remain untracked by Scottish Water, according to SAS’s analysis.
The organisation believes the true extent of sewage pollution is significantly underreported, as the vast majority of the network remains unmonitored.
To raise awareness and demand accountability, SAS urged swimmers, surfers, and all who value clean water to take part in a UK-wide protest on Saturday.
Ella and I joined headed to Nairn Central Beach, one of the many protest sites, where participants gathered to express their growing frustration.
SAS continues to demand full disclosure and comprehensive monitoring, warning that without greater transparency, the true scale of Scotland’s sewage pollution crisis will remain hidden.
