SCOTLAND'S water scarcity situation is worsening, with a further decline in river levels following another dry week and only limited rainfall forecast in the days ahead, the county's environment watchdog has warned.
This week’s water situation report, published online by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), shows that six additional river catchments have moved to "moderate scarcity" warning level.
The addition of the Tay, Spey, Annan, Nith, Dee (Galloway) and Cree brings the total number of river catchments now at moderate scarcity to 17. This covers the east coast Aberdeenshire down to the Scottish Borders and across the south of the country to Dumfries and Galloway.
While rain is forecast this weekend and the start of next week, it will not reverse the effects of weeks of dry conditions, Sepa warned. It comes after some parts of Fife have seen no measurable rain for over a month, and many rivers remain at record lows.
The River Tilt in Tayside is at its lowest flow in 34 years of records, and the River Spey has seen its lowest May flow since records began in 1952.
What do Scotland’s water scarcity levels mean?
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Early warning: Conditions are drying but no action is currently required. Abstractors should begin preparing for potential action.
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Alert: Water levels are falling, and SEPA advises voluntary reductions in non-essential water use.
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Moderate scarcity: There is clear environmental impact, and action is expected from abstractors to protect rivers and the species that rely on them.
Eilidh Johnston, Sepa’s senior manager in water industry and rural economy, said: “Some of Scotland’s most iconic rivers are at record lows, and the environmental impacts are clear. A few days of rain will not undo months of drier than average weather. We need well above average rainfall over a sustained period to see any recovery, especially in the east.
“It has been the driest start to a year in Scotland since 1964. Fife has had no significant rain for over a month and groundwater levels are some of the lowest on record for the time of year. So, we're seeing some quite significant issues coming.
“I’m urging anyone who has a licence from Sepa to take water from the environment to ensure you are doing everything you can to use water efficiently. If the weather continues without significant additional rain, we'll have to take measures to reduce the amount of water that can be taken from the environment. The steps you take now are very important in delaying that action.”
What are the environmental risks from Scotland's first rainfall in weeks?
There is some rain in the forecast, and following dry weather, heavy rainfall can cause sudden changes in water quality. The first rainfall after a dry period can rapidly wash pollutants from roads and land into rivers, creating a short-term shock that ecosystems struggle to absorb.
This is a known risk for fish deaths and is a stark reminder of how fragile river systems can be after an extended dry period.
Anyone concerned about a fish kill, referring to a localised die-off of fish populations, should report it to Sepa as soon as possible via here so officers can investigate and ensure there is not an ongoing pollution incident.
