Anger as Scottish Water 'rewards bosses for failure' with eye-watering bonuses

Published: 19:40, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 19:40, 13 August 2026 Bosses at Scottish Water received more than £250,000 in bonuses over the last year in what critics have branded a ‘reward for failure’. The public body’s latest accounts show chief executive Alex Plant, chief financial officer Alan Dingwall and chief operating officer Peter Farrer were given £258,000 in performance payments. Mr Plant received £115,000 on top of his £315,000 salary with a total remuneration package, including pensions and benefits, standing at £432,000. His colleague Mr Dingwall who is on £217,000 a year pay was given a £79,000 bonus with a total remuneration of £363,000 and Mr Farrer was awarded with a £64,000 bonus. He earns a salary of £176,000 although his total package is £280,000. They were generously rewarded for their performance after water bills were hiked by 8.7 per cent in April with the average household now paying £42 more each year. There are also on-going concerns over sewage spilling into the country’s waterways. The Liberal Democrats accused the Scottish Government of ‘rewarding their water company for failure’. MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said: ‘Scottish Water is paying out enormous bonuses to bosses who are presiding over filthy sewage dumps and hitting customers with bigger bills. Dame Jackie Baillie, acting leader of Scottish Labour, said it's 'not right that rich executives are handed massive payouts' ‘Sewage dumping in Scotland is still governed by 30-year-old sewage rules which the Government’s own watchdog says are failing. ‘To turn the tide on the sewage scandal, Scottish Liberal Democrats have published plans for a Clean Water Act that would bring our sewage network into the 21st century, clamp down on dumping and get to the bottom of this disgusting practice.’ Dame Jackie Baillie, acting leader of Scottish Labour, said: ‘These are eye-watering sums for Scottish Water bosses to be picking up. ‘It is not right that rich executives are handed massive payouts such as these when people across Scotland are struggling to afford the basics. ‘It is why Scottish Labour has called for an end to above-inflation water bill hikes, and a restriction on bonuses for those at the top of Scottish Water.’ A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: ‘Performance-related payments are part of an organisation-wide scheme that applies across Scottish Water. ‘It is not automatic and is payable only if the organisation meets performance targets. ‘In 2025/26, Scottish Water delivered its second-best year for operational performance, including record customer satisfaction, its lowest ever number of serious pollution incidents, high drinking water quality, and continued progress on the largest investment programme in its history.’ Scottish Water chief executive Alex Plant received £115,000 on top of his £315,000 salary A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scottish Water is subject to independent economic regulation, one of the most transparent and demanding improvement regimes of any public body in Scotland. ‘We expect it to continue outperforming the tough efficiency targets set by its regulator. ‘Like any large organisation, Scottish Water must compete with the private sector to attract and retain the skilled people needed to run the business and deliver the improvements government has asked for. ‘Bonuses are only paid when demanding, independently verified targets are exceeded. ‘The remuneration package for the chief executive and senior team, including salary and bonus, remains significantly lower than at comparable utility companies.’