SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, has announced the suspension of water abstractions for most licence holders in mid and north Fife as river and groundwater levels become critical in the east of Scotland.

The Agency said that the water environment in the River Eden catchment reached Significant Scarcity last week, the highest category for water scarcity defined by SEPA, and is getting worse with hot and dry weather continuing.

The Tweed catchment in the Borders is in a similar situation and has also now reached Significant Scarcity in the latest report published on Friday 12 August.

A temporary suspension on water abstraction licences is being imposed from midnight on Saturday 13 August for the vast majority of farmers in the River Eden catchment to allow levels to recover. We're working with Scottish Government to assess the options around soft fruit production, which is a perennial crop and typically has more efficient irrigation methods and a lower water impact.

Abstractors in the Tweed catchment are also being contacted to confirm next steps and any licence suspensions in this area will take effect early next week.

Suspensions are part of Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan, which is designed to ensure the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and economic activity during prolonged dry periods.

The Plan clearly sets out what actions SEPA and abstractors are required to take at each stage of water scarcity. Suspensions are predominantly within the agriculture sector, will be for the minimum time necessary and will be lifted as soon as possible.

Those abstractors affected will receive suspension notices. Continuing to abstract without a licence is an offence, and SEPA officers will be visiting abstractors to ensure compliance. As soon as conditions improve, we will lift the suspensions.

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David Harley, Interim Chief Officer Circular Economy for SEPA, said: "Having to impose suspensions on water abstractions underlines the severity of the conditions being experienced in the east of Scotland this summer. It is not a step we take lightly, but the evidence is clear, and it is one we can no longer avoid.

"We're working closely with Scottish farmers to ensure the sustainability of local water environments for all who rely on them. Without action, there is a substantial risk of impacts on fish populations, natural habitats and longer-term damage to watercourses.

"With climate change leading to water scarcity becoming a more regular occurrence, we are also working to help businesses plan longer-term for these conditions. We remain in continuous dialogue with sectors reliant on water and work with them all year round on ways to become more resilient, protecting the environment as well as their own operations."

While SEPA focuses on managing abstractions from Scotland's natural water resources for agriculture and other industrial uses, Scottish Water maintains public water supply.

There is clear evidence for the need to suspend abstraction licenses to protect the sustainability of local water environments. The main stem of the River Eden in Fife is at the second lowest level on record; only 1989 was lower. Flows at Kemback have not been as low for this long since 2003 and Strathmiglo is also experiencing its most prolonged low flow period on record.

In the Tweed catchment in the Borders, Lyne Station recorded its fourth lowest flow in 53 years, only 2003 was lower. Mouthbridge at Blackadder Water also dropped to its lowest flow since records began in 1974.

The combination of very low flows and high temperatures in watercourses leads to mortality of fish, invertebrates and plants. While some parts of river ecology can recover quickly, others such as fish and plant populations can take years to recover. Some populations, such as pearl mussels, could be permanently lost.

The current conditions are a consequence of drier weather this year, with only four of the last 12 months recording above average rainfall. The east of Scotland also experienced the driest January in more than 80 years and groundwater levels are the lowest they have been since records began in 2009. Although there has been some recent rainfall in the east and an immediate increase in river flows, it has not been enough to recover the longer-term deficits.

Scotland is already seeing the impacts of a changing climate with an increase in water scarcity events over last few years. Climate change is likely to bring more uncertainty and may exert pressure in areas that have not experienced water scarcity before.

The current dry conditions are not just affecting Scotland. According to the European Drought Observatory the area affecting several regions of Europe since the beginning of the year continues to expand. The conditions, which are related to lack of rainfall and early heatwaves mean that 45% of Europe and the UK was in Warning conditions, and 15% in Alert conditions during July.

While mitigation strategies are of the utmost importance now, so is tackling the root cause of the problem. We know that there is locked in climate change we cannot reverse and, as well as adapting to this, Scotland must play its part in a huge reduction in carbon emissions globally so future generations do not face further locked-in change.