A new environmental group has been set up to monitor pollution and fly tipping in the River Almond.
The move follows a series of discharges of raw sewage into the river in recent months from the water treatment works at East Calder.
The group River Almond Action Group (RAAG) met with local SNP councillors, Janet Campbell, Diane Calder and Moira Shemilt, to find out more about the pollution problems.
An RAAG spokesperson explained to the three councillors the problems associated with the East Calder treatment works; the difficulties with overspills and run-off during and following moderate to heavy rainfalls; issues with capacity as communities increase and knowledge and awareness of local people.
Much has been done by volunteers and other agencies to improve the quality of the River Almond, where salmon, brown trout and sea trout can all now be found and where herons and kingfishers can regularly be spotted along its banks.
During the past difficult year, local people have increasingly relied upon the open space of the river in order to increase and maximise physical and mental health and well-being.
However, the group are adamant that good work is being undermined by regular discharges of debris including toilet paper, baby wipes, coagulated fat and sanitary products.
They would like the public to have more warnings when discharges are made into the river, so that owners can prevent dogs from swimming, for example.
The ultimate aim of RAAG, however, is for sections of the Almond to achieve designated Bathing Water status.
Cllr Janet Campbell, SNP council group leader, said, “According to a recent Freedom of Information Request (FOI) there was a total of 501 discharges of sewage across 4 sites of the Almond, amounting to 572,577 cubic litres. That is simply unacceptable.”
Cllr Diane Calder, SNP spokesperson for the Environment, commented on the excellent endeavours of the RAAG and others, such as West Lothian Litter Pickers, on clearing up the locality.
She said:, “They work so hard, in their own time, to make our communities better. We owe them a vote of thanks.”
Dr Moira Shemilt, councillor for Livingston South, commented that: “For the many hard-working volunteers who have done much to improve the river, it must be very disheartening to see it become so polluted with foul stuff.
With the growth in popularity of wild swimming, it would be fantastic for the Almond to be granted Water Bathing Status. We could do so much more with our beautiful river.
We could start with not flushing baby wipes down our toilets!”
All three councillors said they would work closely with partners and agencies such as West Lothian Council, Scottish Water, Veolia and SEPA to seek solutions to the issues highlighted by RAAG.
