Water scarcity is a growing threat across northern and eastern parts of Scotland with more areas raised to Alert level, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has said.

In the latest report published by the SEPA, Wick and Thurso join eastern parts of the country, where businesses that abstract water are being advised to do so more efficiently.  

Groundwater levels are falling and are very low at some monitoring locations, while river flows also remain low for this time of year. 

In the south of Scotland, the Esk, Annan and Dee catchment areas have been raised to Early Warning level. This is due to a combination of dry ground conditions, low rainfall and low river flows.

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

Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Nathan Critchlow-Watton said: "The weather conditions in June have been dry across most of the country so far, with many areas seeing below average rainfall over the last three weeks. 

"There is still a broadly east-west split in the risk of water scarcity and we are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Earlier this year, SEPA warned that water scarcity conditions could deteriorate quickly if dry weather continues, and we are seeing this happen across Scotland as warning levels increase and expand to more areas each week.  

"Businesses can play a part in protecting the environment by following our advice on using water efficiently and having a plan for when resources start to deplete. 

"Water scarcity will become a more regular occurrence in Scotland as a result of climate change, but SEPA is here to help minimise the impacts on both the environment and key sectors across the country."