The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is warning that 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.

180 tonnes of congealed wet wipes – the equivalent to the weight of 15 double decker London buses – are being removed from the River Thames by the Port of London Authority, in collaboration with Thames Water.

One of Scotland’s most easterly points has successfully been kept in water supply after a period of low rainfall affecting water reserves on the islet. Skerries, an archipelago of three islands, is the most easterly outpost that is part of Shetland, making it one of the most remote places in Scotland.

Chris Falconer, Chief Commercial Officer at Water Direct, takes a look at what he calls “the most ignored threat in continuity planning” and shares insights from the frontlines - from schools and care homes to factories - where water outages hit hard, and often, there’s no contingency plan at all.

A number of areas across eastern Scotland are now within a week of reaching Significant Scarcity according to the latest data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The National Drought Group (NDG) met yesterday and agreed to step up its operational response as a drought was declared in the West and East Midlands.