Don’t let the recent weather fool you. Despite rain and thunderstorms in the last few days, large parts of Scotland remain at some level of water scarcity. With summer just beginning, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are warning that complacency is a real risk.
While rainfall in late May and early June brought localised relief, it has not reversed the underlying dry conditions. Eight river catchments – the Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don, Dee, Esk, Firth of Tay and Tyne – remain at Moderate Scarcity, while a further seven – Wick, Helmsdale, Naver, Findhorn, Forth, Almond and Tweed – are at Alert.
SEPA started issuing warnings about the chance of water scarcity in March, after an exceptionally dry Autumn and Winter. Spring 2025 was the second driest in more than 100 years, and the driest since 1964 in parts of eastern Scotland.
Parts of the country have seen below-average rainfall for over a year, and even where recent rain has brought short-term improvement above-average rainfall is still needed for water scarcity levels to recover in some areas.
Since the weekend, rain has been concentrated in the northwest, promoting recovery to Normal Conditions in some areas. DRAT (Drought Risk Assessment Tool) stations have now also reset, including Helmsdale, which was at Significant last week.
Claire Tunaley, Senior Hydrologist – Water Resources Unit, SEPA said: “It won’t take a heatwave for river levels to fall again. With summer only just beginning, and rainfall in the east still well below average, conditions could deteriorate quickly.
“Rivers entered summer already stressed after months of below average rainfall, and the kind of brief periods of rain we can get over the summer often don’t soak in properly or evenly enough to reverse that.
“Less water in rivers means warmer temperatures, lower oxygen, and shrinking channels, all of which increase pressure on fish, aquatic life, and habitats.”
Scotland’s water scarcity levels are grounded in current data, not forecasts. SEPA’s team of specialists maintain and calibrate a national network of river flow stations — a science-led system that gives an accurate picture of pressures on our rivers, lochs, and water supplies.
Eilidh Johnston, SEPA’s Senior Manager in Water Industry and Rural Economy, said: “We don’t wait until the situation reaches crisis point to act, and we don’t expect water users to either.
“Many abstractors have already been planning ahead and taking steps to use water efficiently, especially in areas of Alert and Moderate scarcity.
“We’ve talked to over 400 licence holders across the last few months and welcome the steps that have been taken by farmers, distilleries, industry and others to use water efficiently. We urge them to continue to do that.”
“If you hold an abstraction licence and you’re in an area of Moderate Scarcity, don’t be concerned if we get in touch. We’re still contacting abstractors where rivers are low to ensure they have all the information they need to make decisions about their water use, and to make sure nothing comes as a surprise if further action becomes necessary.”
SEPA will continue to monitor conditions and publish weekly water scarcity reports to help businesses make informed decisions about their water use.
Access to the reports, and SEPA’s DRAT station information, is available at sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity
New figures reveal an ongoing pollution problem from bee-killing pesticides in English rivers.
85% of rivers tested in 2023 – 2024 were found to have bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides present, with the proportion affected seeming to have risen slightly from previous years.
Campaigners call on the Government to deliver a step change on river pollution, enforce and extend neonicotinoid bans, better resourced regulators to make polluters pay, and ensure nature-friendly farm payments which incentivise a transition to pesticide-free approaches.
The calls come after thousands of people marched the streets of London to protest the state of UK rivers and seas in The March For Clean Water on 3 November.
A new analysis of the latest official data from the Environment Agency has uncovered widespread river pollution linked to toxic neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics), known for their harmful effects on bees.
The data suggests a slight increase in the proportion of rivers affected over the past two years. These findings emerge as the government considers granting a controversial ‘emergency’ authorisation for the use of a banned bee-killing pesticide on sugar beet crops.
The analysis from the Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link showed that:
1 or more harmful neonics were found in 85% of English river sites between 2023-2024 (23 of 27 surface water sites tested for neonics by the Environment Agency). The proportion of rivers affected seems to have increased – In 2020-2022 neonics were present in 79% of river sites tested by the regulator (34 of 43 sites).[1]
Areas where sugar beet farming and processing is concentrated (particularly the East Midlands and East of England) had some of the highest detection rates of neonics in samples tested, and have many of the rivers with the highest number of neonics detected. The South West and South East had the highest overall neonic detection rate, in 54% and 41% of samples respectively.
The largest numbers of neonics were found at single sites on the River Waveney and River Wensum in the East Midlands, where all 5 of the neonics analysed for were detected. Other sites that had high numbers of neonics detected included the River Nene, River Ouse and River Ivel in the East of England, River Lugg, River Tame and River Teme in the West Midlands, Sincil Dyke and the River Dove in the East Midlands, River Ouse and Ancholm in Yorks and Humber, River Test in the South East, River Chelt in the South West and the River Douglas in the North West.
Only 27 river sites across the whole of England were tested for neonics in 2023-24, down from 43 sites in 2020-2022, a fall of over a third (37%) in the number of sites tested. Nature charities warn that this is an indicative sign of the worsening resources of the Environment Agency and the resulting decline in river monitoring by the regulator.
Two pesticides, Clothianidin and Imidacloprid, are by far the most prevalent neonics (both found at 29 of 45 river sites tested between 2020-2024 – 64.4%).
Clothianidin is a neonicotinoid in its own right but is also a breakdown product of Thiamethoxam – the banned pesticide permitted for ‘emergency use’ by the sugar industry for the last 4 years by the previous Conservative Government.
Imidacloprid is banned for use on crops but is still used in tick and flea treatments, with pet and livestock use the likely main cause of Imidacloprid pollution in our rivers.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “The extensive presence of potent pesticides in rivers is another smoking gun in the hands of intensive agriculture and the decline of nature.
“The Labour Party has pledged to end emergency authorisations of the use of banned neonicotinoid pesticides and to halve the risk of pesticide pollution by 2030. The sugar industry has again applied for emergency authorisation to use Cruiser SB coated sugar beet seeds and if approved this would make the 5th year in a row of ‘emergency’ use of neonicotinoids.
!The Government must surely deny the request and redouble farming reforms to offer generous support for farmers who cut right down on chemical use.”
Barnaby Coupe, senior land use policy manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “The UK Government’s pledge to end the emergency use of these bee-killing pesticides must be signed into law.
“Pollinating insects like bees are the foundation of a healthy ecosystem and essential for pollinating crops. These chemicals are banned because they are extremely harmful for soils, water, wildlife and human health.
“The evidence is clear that the environmental risks from neonicotinoids are far too great – there is no place in modern society for them to be used.”
Dr Rob Collins, Director of Policy and Science at the Rivers Trust, said: “The widespread presence of neonicotinoid pesticides in rivers raises alarm bells for the health of our freshwater ecosystems and contributes to the huge cocktail of chemicals afflicting rivers, derived from agriculture, industry, transport and our homes and businesses.
“We need to see greater resources made available to monitor chemicals in the environment and systemic change that delivers a much more sustainable approach to their use, right across society.”
In its election manifesto the Labour Party pledged to end emergency authorisations of the use of banned neonicotinoid pesticides. Yet British Sugar, which has a monopoly on the UK sugar industry, has again applied for emergency authorisation to use Cruiser SB coated sugar beet seeds, and the Government has yet to confirm whether it will deny the request.
If approved this would make the 5th year in a row ‘emergency’ use of neonicotinoids is approved on sugar beet crops.
Cruiser SB is based on the pesticide Thiamethoxam. Not only is the neonicotinoid pesticide Thiamethoxam highly toxic to bees (with one teaspoonful of such neonicotinoids able to kill 1.25 billion bees) there are also many farmers who recognise we should be moving away from its use.
With 40% of sugar farmers choosing not to use this product even when it is authorised, demonstrating farmers are deciding their crops and yields can cope without banned pesticides.
There is also massive public opposition to the emergency authorisations of neonicotinoids for use by the sugar industry. Multiple environment charities have had huge responses to petitions about neonicotinoids.
A current petition from Greenpeace alone is running at 1.6 million signatures, with members of the public encouraged to sign the petition ahead of it being handed in to Government imminently:
Dr Doug Parr, Policy Director at Greenpeace UK, said: “Scientists are clear that neonicotinoids are killing bees and other pollinators while threatening our nature and food security.
“We now have worrying new findings about these pesticides polluting our waterways and harming the life in our rivers.
“Before the election Labour pledged to stop further use of bee poisons and, with the public overwhelmingly in support, they simply must stand by their promises.
“Now Labour are in the hot seat of government they can take the initiative by supporting farmers to transition away from these chemicals, backing essential clean food production and ensuring that nature can recover.”
Paul de Zylva, senior sustainability analyst at Friends of the Earth, said: “Our rivers and freshwaters are under assault from pesticides, which are too often overlooked as pollutants.
“Pesticide firms and the intensive farm industry claim that banning harmful pesticides would cause crop failures and job losses, but this simply hasn’t happened.
“Nutritious, plentiful food can be grown without relying on quick-fix chemicals that clearly harm the nation’s soils and wildlife.
“That’s why Labour must stick to its pledge to end the use of these unnecessary and highly damaging pesticides, and ensure its independent water review fully addresses pollution from industrial and agricultural chemicals.”
Josie Cohen, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Pesticide Action Network UK, said:“The previous UK Government banned neonics in 2018 because of the harms they cause to pollinators.
“When in opposition, Labour were very supportive of the ban and criticised the Conservatives harshly for repeatedly granting emergency permissions for sugar beat. Despite all their warm words about restoring nature, it now seems possible that our new Government will follow their predecessors’ leads in allowing an emergency authorisation which prioritises corporate interests over the environment.
“If Labour want voters to believe they are serious about protecting nature then they must end the use of all neonics in any circumstances.”
Amy Fairman, Head of Campaigns, River Action said:“There’s a toxic cocktail of pollutants stirring in our rivers with pesticides a dangerous part of the mix.
“We need to ensure that the agricultural, chemical and sewage contamination dirtying our rivers, lakes and seas is taken off the menu for good. And that can only be achieved by much tougher legislation, regulation, and enforcement to make sure polluting doesn’t pay!
“Tens of thousands of people and over 140 organisations joined us in flooding the streets on 3 November on the March for Clean Water disgusted at the state of our rivers and seas. The Government must heed the public outrage on this issue and deliver on its promises to turn the tide on the state of our waters.”
Environmental charities are urging the Government to:
Fulfil promises to make water polluters pay, including giving the pollution watchdog – the Environment Agency – stronger teeth. Years of underinvestment have left the regulator overstretched and under-resourced to monitor water pollution and enforce the law.
Ensure nature-friendly farm payments incentivise and support land managers to transition to pesticide-free approaches and increase the use of nature-friendly alternatives.
Fulfil Labour manifesto promises to permanently ban ‘emergency’ neonicotinoid authorisations for crops by putting this into law and ban the use of key harmful neonicotinoids in flea and tick treatments. These chemicals are already banned for use on crops, due to their hazards, so should also be prevented from ending up in our waters from pet and livestock parasite treatments.
Deliver structural reform of the water sector, with tough targets and action plans for water pollution as part of the water review, including: strengthening the Water Framework Directive regulations; toughening polluter pays approaches including ring-fencing fines for nature’s recovery; and accelerating and expanding the use of green pollution solutions.
Work commissioned by Scotland’s environment regulator to restore river habitats has opened up the equivalent of a trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow to Scottish salmon and trout populations in the last year.
The successful removals of Garlogie Dam on the River Dee and Crossmill Weir on the Levern Water, have ensured that 69 kilometres (just under 43 miles) of the rivers are now passable to migratory fish, allowing access to spawning habitats for the first time in more than 100 years.
Both projects were commissioned by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) with funding support from the Water Environment Fund (WEF), which is provided by Scottish Government and administered by SEPA. Funding is targeted on projects which will derive the greatest benefit to Scotland’s rivers and neighbouring communities.
Delivering successful river restoration is crucial to the ecological and environmental well-being of Scotland, a nation famous for our rivers and lochs. As we deal with the challenges of climate adaptation and the impact of our history as an industrial nation on the watery veins and arteries of our country, the significance of successful projects to revitalise essential ecosystems cannot be overstated.
Garlogie Dam and Crossmill Weir, plus the many other river restoration projects that WEF has made possible over the years, have brought together charities, local environment groups, river trusts, local authorities, government bodies and local communities to allow real world improvements to rivers that bring benefits far beyond what people might initially think.
River restoration enhances water quality by reducing pollution and promotes a healthier ecosystem. It also helps mitigate the impact of floods, as restored rivers can better absorb and manage excess water, protecting surrounding areas.
These projects can also contribute to improved recreational opportunities, regenerating important green spaces that allow people to recharge and improve their overall well-being – often acting as meeting points for communities to gather for recreational activities, exercise, or simply to enjoy nature.
Nathan Critchlow-Watton, SEPA Head of Water and Planning, said: “In the face of the daunting challenges faced by the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes. But the work carried out through the Water Environment Fund is demonstrating real improvements for our environment, our communities and our country.
“As Scotland embraces the challenges of the 21st century, the importance of river restoration cannot be overstated. Garlogie Dam and Crossmill Weir are just two excellent examples of projects that merge sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of Scotland’s natural heritage – bringing benefits for our fish populations, our communities and our economy.
“At SEPA we’ll continue to work in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other organisations across the country to identify further opportunities for projects just like these. This work is delivering for Scotland through attractive and accessible river corridors that provide real climate adaptation benefits by enhancing our water environment’s ability to manage the effects of climate change – such as reducing peak flows, increasing habitat diversity and reducing temperatures by providing shade.”
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan said: “The many projects carried out through the Water Environment Fund in collaboration with Local Authorities, river trusts, catchment partnerships and other stakeholders are breathing life back into our rivers. This work benefits our environment, our wildlife – like our iconic wild salmon – and our people and communities.
“The Water Environment Fund enables projects to both restore access to rivers for migratory fish and in urban river restoration, delivering benefits for biodiversity, climate change adaptation, green space provision, public access and flood management.”
Craig Macadam, Conservation Director at Buglife and the Convener of LINK’s Freshwater Group has provided the following: “Scotland is renowned for its freshwaters.
“They are home to iconic species such as Atlantic Salmon and Freshwater Pearl Mussels, provide drinking water, are used to generate electricity, support game fisheries, and are essential for the production of food and drinks, such as whisky.
Barrier removal is an important step in restoring free-flowing rivers in Scotland. The removal of Garlogie Dam and Crossmill Weir will not only benefit migratory fish such as salmon and sea trout, but will also restore natural flow processes, benefitting a wide range of plant and invertebrate species, and helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change in our rivers.”
The 69-kilometre achievement is highlighted inin SEPA’s quarterly Performance Report, which tracks how the agency is progressing against its corporate targets.
The latest report summarises progress, with SEPA on track to achieve seven of the nine measures from last year’s Annual Operating Plan.
Water scarcity situation now Significant in River Tyne, with more catchments expected to follow
The Tyne catchment in East Lothian has reached Significant Scarcity and water abstractors are being contacted about possible licence suspensions
Suspensions remain in force in parts of the Tweed catchment, with the rest of the catchment expected to reach Significant Scarcity in the coming days.
The Ythan catchment in Aberdeenshire is also expected to join the Tyne and Tweed in Significant Scarcity in the next few days.
River and groundwater levels are critically low in the Tyne catchment in East Lothian, with the area reaching Significant water scarcity in the latest report published by The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Businesses reliant on water abstractions are being contacted about next steps and possible licence suspensions to prevent further harm and potentially irreversible damage to the local water environment.
SEPA officers will be engaging with abstractors where suspensions are required to ensure compliance and advise restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions improve sufficiently.
Parts of the Tweed catchment in the Scottish Borders remain in Significant water scarcity with suspensions on abstractions still in place. The rest of the area is also expected to reach this level in the coming days, along with the River Ythan catchment in Aberdeenshire.
Nathan Critchlow-Watton, Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, said: “Although we have seen some rainfall in these areas over the last week, it has not been enough to make up for the long-term deficits that have built up throughout the year.
“With more prolonged dry weather forecast, we will continue to monitor conditions and take appropriate action until the risk of water scarcity has reduced.
“Suspensions are part of Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan, which is designed to ensure the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and economic activity during prolonged dry periods. They are a last resort and SEPA only takes such action when the evidence tells us it can no longer be avoided.
“It is vital that business reliant on local water environments are prepared for these conditions as climate change means water scarcity is becoming a more regular occurrence. We are already seeing that this summer and we are committed to working with those affected now and in the future to help them build resilience.”
Further advice and guidance
Businesses may be able to switch to groundwater as their source and can apply to do so on our website. Applications from Significant Scarcity areas will be prioritised and fast-tracked.
Anyone concerned about meeting licence conditions or wishing to discuss contingency measures are encouraged to contact SEPA by emailing waterscarcity@sepa.org.uk
While SEPA focuses on managing abstractions from Scotland’s natural water resources for agriculture and other industrial uses, Scottish Water maintains public water supply.
For more information on water scarcity and to view the latest report, visit www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity.
