The latest Water Scarcity Situation Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows that the majority of the country is now seeing the impacts of water scarcity and conditions are deteriorating as the dry weather continues. 

The longer-term forecast suggests that there is an increased likelihood of hot, dry weather compared to normal, with a greater chance of impacts from hot weather. 

Water abstractors licenced by SEPA should have a plan to deal with the range of conditions they may experience. They should monitor their water usage and equipment to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency and avoiding any unnecessary leakage. 

By taking the right steps now, abstractors can help make the water supplies on which they and others depend last as long as possible through this period.

• Work together to secure the water available - speak with other water users in your catchment to discuss allocating different times for abstracting to minimise any potential impacts

• Check irrigation equipment is not leaking

• Consider trickle irrigation

• Irrigate at night to avoid evaporation if you can

• Do not over-spray

• Start planning now in case you need to - if you need a new borehole to do this, if your business is having difficulty obtaining water supply or is concerned about meeting licence conditions you should contact SEPA as soon as possible at [email protected].

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SEPA can provide advice on a series of straightforward steps that can be taken to reduce stress on Scotland's water environment and staff are available to provide advice and guidance. However, if businesses deliberately fail to follow the abstraction guidelines set out by SEPA this may result in enforcement action. 

SEPA warned in the Spring that water scarcity conditions could deteriorate quickly if a period of prolonged dry weather returned later in the year.

• Scotland experienced an extremely dry April, with less than a third of the usual rainfall across a large part of the southern country. This caused water levels to fall rapidly and ground conditions became increasingly dry.

• Wet weather in early May partly balanced this in some areas of the country, but in others it remained quite dry.

• Scotland as a whole had less than half the normal rainfall for June (45%) and was 1.4 degrees C warmer than usual. Ground conditions continued to dry rapidly over the last two weeks of the month.

• While the beginning of July saw some locally intense rain, but it was not enough to lead to a sustained improvement.

Some rivers in the Highlands are returning levels that have not been seen for several years.

• River Strathy is currently at its lowest since records began in 1985

• River Brora is currently experiencing its third longest period of low flow since records began in 1993.

• Rivers in the Helmsdale, Naver and Thurso catchment are also experiencing similar prolonged period of low flows.

Terry A'Hearn, Chief Executive at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: "Everyone agrees that water is a vital resource. We need to get used to the idea that, even in Scotland, it is a finite resource - as shown by the increasing severity of the water scarcity picture in large areas of the country. This is just one of the many consequences of climate change Scotland is facing, and it is becoming more common. 

"Water scarcity is resulting in pressures on the environment and water users and businesses abstracting water must take action now to conserve water. My message is clear: SEPA is here to offer support and guidance, so if you are having difficulty obtaining water supply or are concerned about meeting licence conditions get in touch. If you work with us and try to do the right thing in this next period, you will find a helpful and supportive regulator. If you deliberately do the wrong thing, then you'll get the uncompromising regulator your behaviour deserves."