The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned of an increasing water scarcity situation in the North-East and Highlands, with businesses which abstract water all year round being encouraged to take steps to reduce their water usage.

The warning comes as groundwater levels in the North-East of Scotland are extremely low and at one site have reached the lowest levels ever recorded, while some rivers in the Highlands run low.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is providing information for businesses that abstract water year-round on actions to take as resources reach critically low levels.

Changing weather patterns caused by climate change means water scarcity will become more common in Scotland, and the low water levels likely to run into 2021, SEPA said..

Even with periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms in recent weeks, groundwater levels in the North-East are extremely low and at one site reached the lowest levels ever recorded. This follows on from a spring in which there was exceptionally low groundwater levels as well as the third driest April on record.

The latest water situation report published by SEPA yesterday say that significant rainfall is forecast for the next few days which is expected to halt the decline or improve water scarcity across Scotland.

However, in the north-east, groundwater levels have not shown any recovery and remain extremely low.

While public water supplies are operating normally, the Agency said there is increasing risk to private water supplies.

Businesses have been asked to act in order to mitigate the impacts of depleted resources in the area. These actions are:

• Those in the agriculture sector still abstracting should stagger abstractions with other operators
• Where possible reduce the volume of water being abstracted
• Switch to other supplies or suspend abstractions if possible
• Water abstractors licenced by SEPA should have a plan to deal with the range of conditions they may experience, including drought. They should monitor their water usage and equipment to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency and avoiding any unnecessary leakage.

SEPA said it is monitoring the situation closely and coordinating steps to manage water resources in line with Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan.

Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, commented:

“The severity of the water scarcity picture in parts of the North of Scotland is further evidence that water scarcity will become more and more prevalent across Scotland – and is just one of the many consequences of climate change the country faces.

“We want to work with businesses to plan long-term about their water usage so that we can preserve the resource as effectively as possible. This will protect both Scotland’s rivers and lochs and reduce their business risks.”