Scotland’s two main water quangos have teamed up to warn about a possible water shortage in 2022.
A dry spring and scorching summer combined to drain the country’s natural resource this year, culminating in drought warnings being issued up until last month.
Heavy rain in October has helped avert a crisis this year but Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency fear a repeat of parched conditions next summer and are once more asking customers to conserve stocks.
SEPA says only “above average rainfall” over the winter will make up for the shortage we have experienced in 2021.
It added: “If the coming winter does not deliver this rainfall, the risk of water scarcity next summer will be higher and a scarcity situation could develop more quickly.”
The agency’s latest water scarcity map of Scotland reveals most of Scotland has now returned to “normal” conditions after some regions found themselves in “significant scarcity” for water during the summer.
SEPA monitors water levels in the ground and rivers while Scottish Water is responsible for drinking water.
Last night a Scottish Water spokesman said: “Average reservoir levels across Scotland last week were up one per cent to 73 per cent.
Average levels across the country have improved from 57 per cent in late September, following some significant rainfall in recent weeks.
“In a typical year, average reservoir levels at this time of year are just above 80 per cent. Lower average reservoir levels in late summer and early autumn could impact levels next year.”
