Tag: SEPA

Bathing waters continue to perform well across Scotland for 2026

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published the 2026 bathing water classifications, showing the national picture across Scotland’s coasts and inland waters. The majority of designated bathing waters continue to meet high environmental standards, with 47 rated Excellent and 26 rated Good for the year ahead. 

A further 13 bathing waters are classified as Sufficient, and three coastal locations remain Poor. In total, 82% bathing waters achieve Good or Excellent, and 97% meet required standards, reflecting the progress delivered through regulation, investment and sustained partnership working since classifications were first introduced in 2015. 

As Scotland’s environmental regulator, SEPA monitor water quality across all 89 designated bathing waters during the summer months from 15 May to 15 September, working with Scottish Water, local authorities, land managers and communities to identify issues and support action. Classifications are based on a four-year rolling dataset, meaning both long-term improvements and isolated high results can influence year-to-year changes. 

These results reflect that pattern. Several bathing waters have improved their classification and consistently strong results across the dataset reflect on the ground improvements. Others have moved down a category where one or more elevated results affected the four-year picture. Where necessary, SEPA will continue to focus improvement work at these locations to support recovery and long-term resilience. 

For the 2026 season, Kinghorn Harbour and Lower Largo in Fife and Fisherrow Sands in East Lothian remain classified as Poor. Each location is supported by a tailored improvement plan which can involve SEPA, Scottish Water, local authorities and land managers as appropriate. 

This work can include targeted investigations into pressures on local drainage and wastewater networks, action to tackle diffuse pollution, misconnection tracing and enhanced monitoring at key points in the catchment. SEPA will provide updates on progress at these sites ahead of the 2026 bathing season. 

Dr Ruth Stidson, Principal Scientist for Bathing Waters at SEPA, said: “Scotland’s bathing waters continue to perform well overall, with most achieving Good or Excellent status for the year ahead. The progress made over the past decade reflects significant investment and strong partnership working across the country. 

“As we look to the future, our priority is driving improvement at the most impacted locations and building resilience across the wider water environment.

“With changing weather patterns and increasing pressures on drainage and wastewater systems, ongoing regulation is essential – alongside collaboration with Scottish Water, local authorities, land managers and communities. 

“We are committed to reducing pollution at source, protecting public health, and providing clear, accessible information for everyone who enjoys Scotland’s waters.” 

Key city project nears completion

SCOTTISH WATER – ‘DRAINING THE RAIN’ ON CORSTORPHINE ROAD

A £3million project to help prevent wet wipes and other sewer related debris from entering the Water of Leith at Murrayfield in Edinburgh is nearly complete.

Since June, Corstorphine Road has been reduced to one lane while Scottish Water upgrades a key storm overflow, constructing a new spill chamber and screens.

Earlier this month a giant 20 tonne concrete ‘lid’ was lowered into place, marking a major milestone for the project.

Scottish Water Senior Project Manager Ethan Gillies Denning said: “Work has progressed well, despite challenging ground conditions and we are aiming to finish by early December.

“We are extremely grateful to road users and residents who have been patient throughout and have coped well with the disruption on their doorstep.

“We have worked closely with Murrayfield Stadium and Edinburgh City Council to make sure hundreds of thousands of fans have been able to get safely to major events such as the Oasis concerts.

“Similar arrangements are being made so that supporters should have no problems at the autumn rugby internationals that kick off this weekend.

“These projects can be difficult to deliver but once completed, the benefits will ensure the environment is protected for many years to come.”

The project is part of Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme, an additional £500million package of investment to improve the environment and make it more enjoyable for customers to explore their local area.

Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water has identified 108 high-priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement for water quality or aesthetic – sewer related debris – reasons.

Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the investment helps prevent sewage related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.

The project is being delivered by Scottish Water’s alliance partner Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA).

Customer Manager Jennifer Renton said: “Work has progressed well despite some challenges along the way, and we sincerely appreciate the public’s understanding and patience throughout the process.

“We are proud and grateful to be part of Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme, an important investment in enhancing our environment for future generations.”

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited fined £176,000 for six days of flaring ‘that sounded like a jet engine’

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited was fined £176,000 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday (28th October 2025) after pleading guilty to breaching its environmental permit during six days of continuous flaring at its Cowdenbeath site in April 2019. 

The conviction follows an extensive regulatory investigation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) involving specialist regulatory, technical, scientific and enforcement staff, which resulted in referral to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in July 2020. 

The flaring caused significant disruption to the local community, with SEPA receiving more than 900 complaints, the highest number ever for a single environmental event in Scotland. Residents described the noise as “like a jet engine” or a “blowtorch”, which left them unable to sleep. People were reluctant to go outside due to the noise and many referenced anxiety and the fear that something more serious, like an explosion, could happen. 

A loss of steam on 21st April 2019 forced ExxonMobil Chemical Limited to shut down operations at its Fife Ethylene Plant and flare around the clock for almost a week.  

SEPA’s investigation found that: 

  • Smoke from the elevated flare stack exceeded legal limits, with emissions darker than Ringlemann Shade 2 for 110 minutes – more than seven times the 15 minutes permitted.   
  • Significant noise pollution was caused, based on monitoring in the community and statements from residents. 
  • ExxonMobil Chemical Limited had processes and contingency plans that should have prevented the incident, but they were not followed to a high enough standard.  
  • Poor maintenance scheduling, a lack of understanding of the site’s steam balance, and failure to update risk analyses left the plant vulnerable, resulting in the shutdown and prolonged flaring.  

Ross Haggart, SEPA’s Chief Operating Officer for Regulation, Business and Environment, said: “For nearly a week, communities around ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s site were impacted by unacceptable and preventable flaring, causing noise and disruption on a scale that was simply intolerable.  

“The scale of complaints, the highest number ever received by SEPA for a single environmental event, illustrates how many people were impacted by the noise, described as “like a jet-engine”, that disturbed sleep and caused fear and anxiety. 

“Our investigation found that ExxonMobil had processes in place that could have prevented this incident, but they were not followed to a high enough standard. Today’s result holds the company to account for these failures, and the serious impacts communities experienced.  

“While flaring is an important safety mechanism at facilities like this, it must be the exception rather than routine. Significant investment in new flaring infrastructure and operational improvements has been driven by SEPA’s programme of enforcement, and we will continue to keep a firm focus on compliance going forward.” 

SEPA’s twin-track approach 

SEPA have maintained a firm twin-track approach to compliance, ensuring the company is held to account while securing the technical improvements needed to address the root causes of unacceptable flaring. 

Through SEPA’s regulatory requirements, ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has made major investments including the installation of low-noise elevated flare tips and multi-million-pound upgrades to improve steam management, reduce risk and minimise the frequency and duration of flaring events. 

This approach demonstrates SEPA’s commitment to delivering accountability and long-term compliance, delivering tangible improvements for the community.  

Scotland’s east coast faces ‘significant water scarcity’

Scotland faces record water scarcity with 17 catchments at Significant

Scotland’s east coast is facing record pressure on its rivers, with 17 areas now at Significant Scarcity – the highest number since the current version of the National Water Scarcity Plan was introduced. More areas could reach this level in the coming days.

While it is difficult to compare directly with previous years because area boundaries have been refined over time, this year stands out for the scale and duration of low rivers flows. In the Lower Spey, for example, the 2025 season has seen the highest number of low-flow days in a 70-year record.

In response, SEPA have imposed temporary restrictions on licensed abstractions in affected areas. The total number of licence restrictions put in place so far this year is around 270, the highest number SEPA have ever issued.

Significant Scarcity is now affecting the Upper Tweed, Mid-Tweed and Lauderdale, Tyne (Lothian), Fife (East Neuk), Leven (Fife), Lunan Water, Lower Dee and Water of Feugh, South Ugie Water, River Findhorn, Findhorn (East), River Avon, Lower Spey, Deveron, Upper and Lower Don (Aberdeenshire), Ythan and North Fife areas.

All affected licence holders have been issued with letters explaining what they need to do, with the time and date the restrictions come into effect. SEPA officers are out in catchments daily, monitoring conditions and supporting abstractors.

The River Lossie will reach Significant Scarcity on Friday. Unless there is sustained rainfall over the coming days the Brodie, River Helmsdale, Cromarty Firth (North), Inverness (East), River Nairn, Kyle of Sutherland and River Carron areas are due to go to Significant Scarcity next week.

While some rain is forecast, it is not yet clear whether this will be enough to see rivers recover enough to lift restrictions. SEPA will monitor the situation closely.

Regional conditions

North-East

Significant Scarcity: Deveron, Ythan, Upper and Lower Don, Lower Dee and Water of Feugh

Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Dee

Speyside

Significant Scarcity: Lower Spey, River Findhorn, Findhorn East, River Avon, and from Friday the River Lossie

Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Findhorn (Brodie and River Nairn), Mid and Upper Spey

Highlands and Islands

Moderate Scarcity: Helmsdale, Shin, Conon, Inverness (East)

Alert: River Naver, Thurso, Orkney

Early Warning: Shetland

Central – East

Significant Scarcity: East Neuk of Fife, Leven, Lunan Water, North Fife, Tyne

Moderate Scarcity: Almond and the rest of the Esk, Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay catchments

South – East

Significant Scarcity: Upper Tweed, Mid-Tweed & Lauderdale

Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Tweed catchment

Unusual year of pressure

This year has been highly unusual, with repeated dry weather keeping rivers under strain throughout 2025.

Rivers naturally cope with changes in flow as part of their annual cycle, but extended low flows increase pressure on river ecology and recovery takes longer. Repeated low-flow years increase the risk of long-term or even permanent changes.

To better understand the impacts, SEPA has increased ecological monitoring. Additional assessments have been carried out over the summer to assess impacts on fish, in-stream ecology, and water quality.

David Harley, SEPA’s Head of Water and Planning, said: “With 17 catchments now at Significant Scarcity, and more abstraction licences restricted than ever before, Scotland’s rivers are under record pressure.

“Restrictions are always a last resort, but they are essential to protect the environment and all water users. The National Water Scarcity Plan sets out an approach which ensures the correct balance between protecting the environment and providing water for human and economic activity. It has clear thresholds for when restrictions are imposed and lifted, based on detailed monitoring of river levels underpinned by evidence and expertise in relation to the impact of extended low flows on river ecology.

“This year has been highly unusual – we’ve not seen water scarcity conditions persist for this length of time before. It underlines the importance of learning from these events and planning for how Scotland uses and protects its precious water resources in the face of climate change.”

SEPA: More of eastern Scotland reaches Significant Water Scarcity

Ten river catchments in eastern Scotland are now at Significant Water Scarcity, as prolonged dry conditions continue across the east. 

The Lower Spey (covering River Avon and Lower Spey catchments) and Berwickshire (covering Berwickshire coastal and Whiteadder catchments) reached Significant Scarcity on Monday (1st September).  

Upper Don, Lower Don, North Fife, Deveron, Ythan, and Lower Tweed catchments were raised to Significant last week. 

Letters explaining what abstraction licence restrictions are in place have been issued to all affected licence holders, detailing the action that needs to be taken, and the date these restrictions come into force. 

This week’s report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows that a number of other areas in the country also remain under pressure. Without sustained rainfall, further catchments are at risk of reaching Significant Scarcity in the coming week. 

Current conditions 

Much of the east coast currently remains at Moderate Scarcity, including the wider Tweed and Ythan catchments, Dee (Aberdeen), Esk (Angus), Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne (Lothian). 

Thurso, Shin, Conon and Inverness East have been raised to Alert, joining Helmsdale and Orkney. 

Away from the east, conditions are improving. The Clyde, Tay and Earn catchments have recovered from Alert to Early Warning thanks to improved soil moisture and river flows.  

Much of the southwest has also returned to Normal conditions. 

Further catchments are at risk of reaching Significant Scarcity unless they see enough sustained rainfall to recover. These are more defined areas, linked to individual drought risk assessment stations across Scotland.

In the north-east, the Findhorn, Findhorn East, South Ugie Water, Lower Dee, Water of Feugh and Lunan Water are all at risk. Further south, the Leven and the East Neuk (Fife), the Tyne (Lothian), Upper Tweed, Mid-Tweed and Lauderdale could also be raised to Significant. 

Evidence and impacts 

August brought below-average rainfall across the east of Scotland, with some areas receiving less than a third of the normal amount. This continues a year-long deficit in places, reflected in record-low groundwater levels at several SEPA boreholes. 

  • Newton of Falkland in Fife has recorded its lowest level in its 28-year record 
  • Muirton Nature Reserve in Angus has recorded its lowest level in its 17-year record 

David Harley, SEPA’s Head of Water and Planning, said: “This situation has been developing over many months. Groundwater, which usually recharges over the wetter months, and spring snowmelt are like a  bank account that rivers can normally draw on to keep flowing through the summer.

“This year that account is running dry, leaving rivers without their usual baseflow. For example, the Lower Spey hasn’t had this many low-flow days since 1972. That’s having real impacts on people, businesses and the environment. 

“Our decisions are guided by science and data, and our DRAT station monitoring plays a critical role in our ability to respond quickly, fairly and proportionately. Our ongoing monitoring over the summer has enabled us to anticipate risks and engage early with abstracters, ensuring that restrictions on water abstraction were implemented only when absolutely required. 

“These will be lifted as soon as the situation changes and we are confident that rivers have recovered sufficiently.” 

SEPA officers are present in catchments where restrictions are now in place, ensuring licence holders understand what the measures mean for them and providing advice on using water wisely. 

At the same time SEPA ecologists are carrying out surveys in the most affected catchments to monitor how invertebrate communities, the foundation of the river food web, are coping with prolonged low flows.

This information will help SEPA identify whether river communities are holding steady or shifting in ways that could undermine the long-term ecological health of Scotland’s waters.

Healthy river systems are not just vital for wildlife, they provide the stable, resilient water resources that Scotland’s businesses and communities depend on for the long term.  

Anyone can track conditions via SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT), which shows colour-coded stations across Scotland and how close they are to Significant Scarcity.

Clicking on an individual station will show how many days it has been at Q95, a recognised low flow threshold.

When a station reaches 30 days the catchments linked to the station will be moved to Significant Scarcity, and SEPA will move to impose any restrictions required.  

Six areas of Scotland at Significant Scarcity as rivers remain low

Six areas of Scotland are now at Significant Scarcity, the highest level, as prolonged dry conditions continue across the east. 

The Upper Don and Lower Don reached Significant Scarcity on Wednesday, with the Lower Tweed catchment being escalated today (Thursday). The North Fife, Ythan and Deveron catchments were announced earlier this week.

Temporary restrictions have been issued on some abstraction licences in these areas, limiting the amount of water that can be taken from the environment.  

This week’s report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows that a number of other areas in the country also remain under pressure. Without sustained rainfall, further eastern catchments are at risk of reaching Significant Scarcity in the coming week. 

Moderate Scarcity  

  • Escalated this week: Findhorn, Firth, Forth and the Dee in Aberdeen. 
  • Already at Moderate Scarcity: Spey, Esk (Angus), Almond, Tyne (Lothian) and wider areas of the Ythan, Firth of Tay Tweed catchments. 

Alert  

  • Escalated this week: Tay, Clyde and Helmsdale 
  • Already at Alert: Orkney and Earn 

Early Warning 

  • Escalated this week: Conon and Ness  
  • Already at Early Warning: Wick, Forth, Esk (Dumfriesshire), Annan, Dee (Galloway), Cree, Irvine and Ayr, Leven (Dumbartonshire), Naver, Thurso. 

How did we get here? 

The current situation is the result of prolonged, cumulative pressures on Scotland’s water environment.

A dry autumn and winter in 2024/2025 meant rivers and groundwater did not receive their usual recharge, and a lack of snow over the winter denied eastern rivers the gradual spring replenishment that snowmelt normally brings.

Every month of 2025 so far has recorded below-average rainfall in the east, leaving rivers increasingly vulnerable. 

While the west of Scotland saw some improvement after heavy rain earlier in the summer, those gains have not been sustained, and conditions there are also beginning to deteriorate. 

Rain is forecast for parts of Scotland over the coming days, with showers expected Thursday and Friday and heavier, more widespread rain likely in the northeast on Saturday. However, it remains uncertain whether this will provide meaningful relief to rivers that have been under sustained pressure for months. 

David Harley, Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, said: “Six areas of Scotland are now at Significant Scarcity, the highest level of water scarcity we have. It’s a critical moment for farmers, businesses and communities who depend on these rivers.  

“We’ve been warning about water scarcity and the impact it could have on Scotland since May and communicating directly with abstractors across the summer.

“We also been working with key partners, including Fisheries Management Scotland, NFUS, Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish Golf to help the country prepare for potential restrictions.

“We’ve spoken directly to farmers, distillers, golf courses, industry and hydropower businesses over the past few months – this should not come as a surprise to anyone.  

“SEPA officers will be out in areas where restrictions are in place, ensuring abstractors understand their obligations and helping with any questions they may have.  

“While rain is forecast in the coming days, it is too soon to know if it will bring real relief. SEPA will keep monitoring conditions closely and take the action needed to protect our rivers, the environment, and the livelihoods that rely on them.” 

SEPA warn of possible water abstraction restrictions next week

Parts of eastern Scotland remain under sustained water scarcity pressure, and a small number of catchments are approaching trigger levels where regulatory restrictions on abstractions may be required early next week.

The latest water scarcity report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows the situation across the country.

SEPA’s four-tier water scarcity scale goes from Early Warning through Alert and Moderate Scarcity up to Significant Scarcity. The most impacted catchments are currently those at Moderate Scarcity.

Moderate Scarcity – Escalated this week: Spey, Almond and Tweed catchments. They join the Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Esk (Angus), Firth of Tay and Tyne (Lothian), which have been at Moderate Scarcity for several months.

Alert – Escalated this week: Earn and Orkney catchments. The Findhorn, Dee (Aberdeenshire) and Firth of Forth catchments remain at this level.

Early Warning – Escalated this week: Forth, Esk (Dumfriesshire), Annan, Nith, Dee (Galloway), Cree and Leven (Dunbartonshire) catchments have been moved from Normal to Early Warning. Wick, Helmsdale, Tay, Clyde, Naver and Thurso catchments remain at this level.

Not enough rain

Localised thunderstorms at the end of last week, including reports of large hail in Dundee and parts of Aberdeenshire, did not change the overall water scarcity picture. Showers were short lived and patchy, often missing the catchments that needed rain most, and on very dry ground intense rain tends to run off rather than soak in – limiting recharge of rivers and groundwater.

Rainfall data underlines how long this situation has been building. On the east coast of Scotland every month since the start of 2025 has been drier than average. In some eastern areas the deficit extends back to June 2024, with 40% less rainfall than the long-term average over that period.

That prolonged shortfall, coupled with the warm, sunny spring and summer has left rivers, soils and groundwater under pressure.

Areas at risk of restrictions

Early Warning, Alert and Moderate Scarcity indicate the situation on a river catchment scale – based on river levels, groundwater and soil moisture.

Significant scarcity is different. It reflects severe, sustained low flows assessed over a period of time, and is the point at which restrictions are likely.

If very low flows persist in the Deveron, Ythan, Upper and Lower Don in Aberdeenshire, North Fife and the Lower Tweed, SEPA expect those areas could move into significant scarcity as early as next week. The agency has been in direct contact with abstractors in the areas most at risk.

SEPA assess water scarcity each week using long term data and on the ground evidence. Where sustained low flows risk long-term environmental harm, the agency can reduce or temporarily stop licenced abstractions. Any measures would be targeted and time limited, reviewed regularly and lifted as soon as flows recover. If restrictions are required, affected licence holders will be notified directly.

Kenny Boag, SEPA’s Head of Environmental Performance (National), said: “Some rivers in the east of Scotland are days away from the point where restrictions may be needed to protect the environment.

“We are speaking directly to licence holders, so no one should be caught off guard. If you abstract water from the environment, you should already have plans in place. Reduce volumes where you can, stagger abstractions and make sure you are following the conditions of your licence.”

When will the rain come?

There remains uncertainty about the weather next week, as the remnants of ex hurricane Erin could influence Scotland’s weather. It’s too early to say what that will mean for individual catchments, and SEPA will continue to monitor conditions closely.

Radioactive Leaks: End the Secrecy

Chair of Scottish CND has written to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) about radiological contamination incidents from Coulport.

Scottish CND asked for assurances that SEPA will not keep future similar incidents secret and have requested a meeting with SEPA officials.

Rivers in eastern Scotland approach critical low levels for the third time

Some rivers in the east of Scotland are once again approaching critical low flow levels, and a number of areas are around two weeks away from potential Significant Scarcity.  

SEPA’s weekly Water Scarcity Report shows that: 

  • Six river catchments remain at Moderate Scarcity – the Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Esk, Firth of Tay and Tyne (Lothian).  
  • There are now six catchments at Alert, with the Almond and Tweed joining Findhorn, Spey, Dee (Aberdeenshire) and Firth of Forth.  
  • Orkney, Thurso and Clyde catchments have been raised to Early Warning. 

There are currently no restrictions on abstraction licence holders.  

Sustained low flows 

This is the third time that parts of eastern Scotland have been approaching Significant Scarcity in 2025. The first was in May during a dry spell of hot, dry weather and it happened again in July after several weeks of high temperatures and little rain. On both occasions rainfall arrived just before regulatory action was required. However, river flows in these areas have never fully recovered to normal, leaving them vulnerable to the current conditions. 

Following a very dry autumn and winter, rivers entered spring with below-average levels. A dry spring and summer have compounded the situation. While the west is mostly back to normal conditions following rain at the start of June, rivers in the east remain particularly vulnerable due to the rain shadow effect and the way these rivers are fed by snowmelt and groundwater. Some eastern catchments experience rainfall levels similar to East Anglia, leaving them more susceptible to prolonged low flows. 

Recent rain has not been enough to offset months of low rainfall and high evaporation. In some areas, river levels remain well below what is typical for the time of year and the ground is dry, meaning much of the water from showers and downpours runs off quickly rather than soaking in. 

Assessing water scarcity 

SEPA uses a combination of river flows, soil moisture, and groundwater data to determine water scarcity levels of Early Warning, Alert and Moderate Scarcity. 

To identify the most severe situations, SEPA uses DRAT (Drought Risk Assessment Tool) stations, which monitor river flows closely. If a DRAT station shows that river flow is at Q95 - a recognised low-flow threshold in hydrology – for 30 consecutive days the catchment is classified as experiencing Significant Scarcity. This science-led approach is used to track environmental conditions and help prevent lasting harm to rivers, lochs and the ecosystems that depend on them.  

If conditions do not improve and these areas move to Significant Scarcity, SEPA will need to take regulatory action. Measures may include limiting or temporarily suspending abstractions where necessary. These decisions will be based on sound science and environmental monitoring, including recognised hydrological low-flow thresholds based on river flow records that span decades. Restrictions will only be in place for the shortest time possible. 

SEPA continues to engage with abstraction licence holders to ensure that those in affected areas are informed and prepared. Everyone from farmers and producers to industry and manufacturers are urged to use water efficiently and manage this shared resource responsibly. Advice is available on SEPA’s website, as well as from SEPA staff contacting abstractors with licences in areas at risk. 

Eilidh Johnston, SEPA’s Senior Manager in Water Industry and Rural Economy, said: “Rivers in eastern Scotland remain under sustained pressure. Approaching Significant Scarcity for the third time this year in some areas highlights the vulnerability of eastern Scotland’s water environment.

“We understand that after such a long period the message may feel repetitive, and it’s easy to assume that rainfall will arrive in time to ease the pressure as it has before. But there’s no guarantee that will happen this time. That’s why it’s vital that businesses continue to stay engaged, understand conditions in their area and take action where needed. 

“Throughout the spring and summer, we’ve been working closely with abstractors in the areas most at risk – including calling licence holders directly. We’ll also continue to work with organisations like NFUS, Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish Golf to ensure advice is shared and impacts are understood. Clear, early communication continues to be provided, so no one is caught off guard.  

“We know how important water is to the Scottish economy, particularly sectors like farming, food and drink, and energy. We also know that without a healthy water environment those sectors cannot thrive.

“As an effective regulator, our role is to balance the needs of businesses with the health of the environment they rely on. It is crucial that these environments do not become so stressed that they struggle to recover, which would reduce the water resources available to those businesses in the long term.” 

SEPA continues to urge all abstractors from farmers and producers to industry and manufacturers to use water efficiently and manage this shared resource responsibly. SEPA staff are contacting abstractors with licences in areas at risk and advice is available on SEPA’s website sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity.  

Scotland heading into fourth month of water scarcity

For over three months, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have been closely monitoring and supporting Scotland through a prolonged period of water scarcity.

Despite recent rainfall easing conditions in some areas, six catchments remain at Moderate Scarcity, with a further four at Alert and 11 at Early Warning. This week Shetland has moved to Early Warning. The Conon catchment has improved to normal conditions. Elsewhere conditions remain unchanged.

Since the first warning about the increasing risk of water scarcity back in March, SEPA have been working to support abstraction licence holders, ensuring they have the information and guidance needed to adapt.

While public attention may shift with the weather, the underlying risks remain. Extended periods of dry weather, like those seen twice already this spring and summer, have made recovery difficult and remind us that water scarcity is a long-term challenge.

SEPA’s ongoing monitoring has enabled the agency to anticipate risks and engage early with abstracters, ensuring that any next to restrictions on water abstraction were implemented only when absolutely required. This proactive approach meant that, despite coming very close twice so far this year, no unnecessary restrictions have been imposed safeguarding both water users and the environment.

Catrin Thomas, Senior Scientist in SEPA’s Water Resources Unit, said: “Water scarcity isn’t just a one-off event – it’s a long-term challenge, and we’re here for Scotland throughout.

“Our staff have been monitoring conditions, sharing updates weekly and engaging directly with those who rely on our water resources. Twice this year we’ve experienced spells of prolonged dry weather, and due to the dry autumn and winter, that has made it harder for catchments to recover. Another period of warm dry weather could quickly push some areas back into more serious levels of scarcity.

“We understand the pressures that come with managing water, and our role is to provide timely reliable information so no one is caught off guard. As the weather shifts, we urge all abstractors to continue using water efficiently, especially those in at risk areas, and keep informed through our website and reports. We’ll continue providing timely information and expert advice to help manage Scotland’s water resources sustainably.”

SEPA’s water scarcity situation reports are published weekly. The network of Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) stations is also available for people to track the areas that are most at risk.

All information is available on our website at sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity