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.

The Environment Agency has today announced that the East and West Midlands have officially entered a drought following an extended period of hot weather and the driest June since 1976.

The Environment Agency has declared drought status for the West Midlands and East Midlands following the driest spring in 132 years.

Following Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s claim that Britain’s way of life is “under threat” from climate change, local planning authorities (LPAs) are being urged to mandate rainwater harvesting across all new infrastructure projects, from residential developments to high-rise commercial buildings.