Monday 5 January had a crystal clear blue sky, the day was cold and bright as the sun was shining, there is no doubt as to what was washed ashore. What is shown in the photographs below is brown, foul smelling sewage mulch. It was at least 5/6 inches deep in places and occurred over most of the Nairn East beach right up to access point 9 and beyond. NRCC wrote to SEPA and Public Health Highland to register our concerns.
Nairn River Community Council (NRCC) has major concerns about sewage discharges and public health concerns at Nairn East beach.
Nairn has once again experienced the troubling issue of raw sewage being washed ashore onto its beach. This recurring problem has caused concern among local residents and visitors, drawing attention to the ongoing challenges with sewage management in the area.
The affected location is situated in the vicinity of the sewage pipe that runs from the Nairn Wastewater Treatment Works to the designated discharge point. It is evident that raw sewage has likely washed ashore, a direct consequence of the sewerage pipe being broken in multiple places.
This situation is not only disgraceful but represents an extremely serious public health concern. Scottish Water holds the responsibility for ensuring that such incidents do not occur; however, these events have been repeated on several occasions. The links provided below illustrate that problems with this outfall pipe have persisted for a considerable period.
There is a clear necessity for Public Health Highland and SEPA to conduct investigations into this significant spill. Repair work on the outfall commenced on Monday, 19 May 2025, but further damage was discovered in subsequent months across other sections of the outfall pipe. Consequently, the repair efforts have been halted, with no indication as to when they will resume or be completed.
Given its responsibility for addressing potential environmental hazards to health, Public Health Highland must investigate this major spill as a matter of urgency.
NRCC asserts that Scottish Water has breached its license (NGR NH 8930 5830) by delaying and failing to complete the necessary repairs properly. NRCC also believes SEPA should conduct an independent investigation into these shortcomings by Scottish Water.
NRCC understands that both Public Health Highland and SEPA work closely with Scottish Water.
https://bathingwaters.sepa.org.uk/locations-and-results/results/?location=206178
Nairn River Community Council 