Experts warn water levels could ‘deteriorate quickly’ despite recent wet weather

Experts have warned that water levels in many of Scotland’s rivers could “deteriorate quickly” despite recent rainfall, with waterways remaining “stressed” by months of exceptionally dry weather.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said while rainfall in late May and early June brought relief to parts of the country, it has not been enough to reverse underlying dry conditions.

Eight river catchments – the Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don, Dee, Esk, Firth of Tay and Tyne – remain at “Moderate Scarcity”, while a further seven – Wick, Helmsdale, Naver, Findhorn, Forth, Almond and Tweed – are at “Alert” status because of low water levels.

People enjoying the warm weather in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens on Thursday. Temperatures could hit 33C this weekend as parts of the UK bask in a heatwave | PA

The agency has called on water abstractors, such as farmers, distilleries and industry, not to wait until the situation reaches “crisis point” before starting to use water more efficiently.

Claire Tunaley, senior hydrologist – water resources unit at Sepa said: “It won’t take a heatwave for river levels to fall again.

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“With summer only just beginning, and rainfall in the east still well below average, conditions could deteriorate quickly.

“Rivers entered summer already stressed after months of below average rainfall, and the kind of brief periods of rain we can get over the summer often don’t soak in properly or evenly enough to reverse that.

“Less water in rivers means warmer temperatures, lower oxygen, and shrinking channels, all of which increase pressure on fish, aquatic life, and habitats.”

Sepa started issuing water scarcity warnings in March, following an “exceptionally dry” autumn and winter, and then the second-driest spring in more than a century.

Above-average rainfall needed

The body said parts of the country have seen below-average rainfall for over a year, and even where recent rain has brought short-term improvement above-average rainfall is still needed for water scarcity levels to recover in some areas.

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Eilidh Johnston, Sepa’s senior manager in water industry and rural economy, said: “We don’t wait until the situation reaches crisis point to act, and we don’t expect water users to either.

People enjoying the warm weather in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens | PA

“Many abstractors have already been planning ahead and taking steps to use water efficiently, especially in areas of alert and moderate scarcity.

“We’ve talked to over 400 licence holders across the last few months and welcome the steps that have been taken by farmers, distilleries, industry and others to use water efficiently. We urge them to continue to do that.”

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She advised anyone with an abstraction licence in an area of moderate scarcity not to be “concerned” if Sepa get in touch.

Ms Johnston continued: “We’re still contacting abstractors where rivers are low to ensure they have all the information they need to make decisions about their water use, and to make sure nothing comes as a surprise if further action becomes necessary.”

Sepa specialists monitor water levels using a national network of river flow stations, which the body described as a “science-led system that gives an accurate picture of pressures on our rivers, lochs, and water supplies”.