At nearly four miles long, Loch Leven is the largest natural body of water in the UK, and has long attracted wild swimmers, with everyone from triathletes-in-training to the more casual paddlers heading to Kinross for a dip.

Now the Scottish Greens are calling for the loch to become Scotland’s first protected wild swimming hotspot.

They want the historic site to be given designated bathing water status by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). There has been a growing number of incidents of toxic algal blooms, caused by phosphorous coming from agricultural run-off and also from two waste water treatment plants which handle the sewage from Milnathort and Kinross.

Because of the shared systems, in periods of heavy rain, Scottish Water is forced to divert untreated sewage directly into the loch.

Councillors call for tighter pollution controls

Perth and Kinross councillors unanimously backed calls for tighter controls on the amounts of phosphorus deposited into the loch. At its worst blue-green algae can kill wild animals, livestock and domestic pets and cause problems for humans.

Mark Ruskell, the MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife says giving the loch designated bathing status could transform it into a “hotspot for wild swimming, paddle sports and mental and physical well-being activities.” He said: “Loch Leven is one of Scotland’s natural treasures and a truly wonderful example of environmental restoration work, after it was brought back to health after issues with pollution back in the early 1990s.

“The deadline for applying to SEPA for bathing water status is March, and we need to show exactly how well loved and used Loch Leven is. I’d love to hear from everyone who swims at and uses Loch Leven to let me know exactly which parts of the shoreline we should look to have as designated spots.

A NatureScot spokesperson said: “Recent research from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology shows the increase in algal blooms is closely linked to increasing loch water temperatures resulting from climate change which causes a release of phosphorous already stored in nutrient rich sediments in the loch.

“NatureScot and our partners in the catchment management group are taking expert advice from SEPA, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Scottish Water on whether there is now additional phosphorus entering the loch levels from sewage discharges and what actions are open to us to prevent this and ensure the water quality of the loch and associated nature is protected.”

The full news piece can be read here in the Herald.