Our Sustainable Development Duty

Scottish Ministers recognise that Scottish Water is a key player in the development of a more sustainable Scotland, as such, when Scottish Water was established it place a duty on us in relation to sustainable development.

The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 51(1) states:

 ‘Scottish Water must, in exercising its functions, act in the way best calculated to contribute to sustainable development.’

Scottish Water’s statutory functions are:

• to provide drinking water to public health standards within statutory regime of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980
• to provide wastewater services to its customers within the statutory regime of the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1980.

The Ministers issued guidance to us on the contribution we should make towards attaining the objective of acting in the way best calculated to achieve sustainable development, with specific actions outlined.

As for sustainable development policy more generally, the guidance seeks to integrate environmental, economic and social justice policy objectives.