Latest news with #ScottishEnvironmentProtectionAgency
Scotsman
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Scotsman
Experts warn water levels could ‘deteriorate quickly' despite recent wet weather
Farmers, distilleries and industry urged not to wait until situation reaches 'crisis point' to start using water more efficiently Sign up to our Scotsman Rural News - A weekly of the Hay's Way tour of Scotland emailed direct to you. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 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. READ MORE: Scotland rejects climate change committee advice to cut livestock herds by a quarter Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad '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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 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. READ MORE: Rosebank and other North Sea oil and gas fields could be given green light under new guidelines 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. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad '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.' 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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
STV News
a day ago
- Climate
- STV News
Multiple warnings issued as temperatures soar across Scotland
Multiple warnings have been issued as temperatures soar across Scotland. The warmer conditions come after days of heavy rain and thunderstorms across the country, however, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned Scots not to be complacent about water usage. The watchdog previously warned of the chance of water scarcity in March after an 'exceptionally dry' spring, which was the second driest in more than 100 years. iStock SEPA issued warnings after the second driest Spring in 100 years. This dry season was broken up by heavy rain and thunderstorms. But SEPA said large parts of Scotland remain at some level of water scarcity despite the wet conditions. The organisation said rainfall in late May and early June brought localised relief, but it has not reversed the underlying dry conditions. Eight river catchments, including the Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don, Dee, Esk, Firth of Tay and Tyne remain at 'moderate scarcity'. Seven additional catchments – Wick, Helmsdale, Naver, Findhorn, Forth, Almond, and Tweed – are also on alert. Claire Tunaley, senior hydrologist for the water Resources Unit at SEPA, said it won't take a heatwave for river levels to fall again. She said: '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,' she said. Eilidh Johnston, SEPA's senior manager for water industry and rural economy, said people shouldn't wait until 'crisis point' to act. 'Many abstractors have already been planning ahead and taking steps to use water efficiently, especially in areas of alert and moderate scarcity,' she added. Many Scots are likely to flock to the coast to enjoy the nice weather, and with the increase in beachgoers, the chances of people getting into danger increase. RNLI The RNLI is urging people to stay safe on Scottish beaches this weekend. The RNLI is urging people to stay safe when visiting Scottish beaches and has deployed lifeguards to patrol eight east coast beaches this weekend. Michael Avril, water safety lead for the RNLI in Scotland, said that although air temperatures may feel warm, UK sea temperatures are cold enough year-round to trigger cold-water shock. He added: 'Big waves and strong rip currents can overpower even the most confident water users.' 'These trained professionals are there to help keep everyone safe. We'd encourage anyone heading into the water to swim between the red and yellow flags, as these mark the area identified as the safest place to swim and most closely monitored by our lifeguards.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway river levels continue recovery after prolonged dry spell
One river has been lowered to 'alert level' and four others have now been given 'early warning' status by SEPA. River levels in Dumfries and Galloway are continuing their recovery following the prolonged dry spell. The catchment for the Esk has been lowered from 'moderate scarcity' to 'alert' level on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's warning system. And the Annan, Nith, Dee and Cree catchments have now been moved to 'early warning' – the lowest rating – after SEPA noted widespread improvements in the west thanks to rain. The environment watchdog monitors river levels using its drought risk assessment tool to measure river flow data from gauging stations across the country. This information is then combined with data from rainfall gauges, Met Office forecasts, soil moisture data and fieldwork by SEPA staff. If river flows at a monitoring station fall below a critical level for 90 days or more, the area is classed as at significant water scarcity. SEPA's senior manager in water industry and rural economy, Eilidh Johnston, said: 'SEPA has a clear duty to protect Scotland's rivers and water environment, not just today but for the future. When conditions reach the point where any further reduction in flow would risk damage to the environment, we must act. 'We know that water is vital for people, farms and businesses, which is why we've been working so closely with abstractors and membership bodies to provide information about how the water scarcity situation has been developing in recent weeks. But when river levels fall too low for too long, we must act to prevent long-term harm to the environment and future supplies. Any regulatory action we take is based on robust evidence-based assessments, using up-to-date scientific data and hydrological analysis. That includes measured river levels, rainfall records, soil moisture and weather forecasts – as well as insights from our field staff. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 'If restrictions are necessary, they will be targeted, time-limited and lifted as soon as the conditions allow. We want to support Scotland's water resilience, and we make our decisions based on science and hard facts. "That's what powers Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan and our weekly assessments. This is a coordinated, evidence-driven response to serious environmental pressure.'
STV News
05-06-2025
- Climate
- STV News
SEPA warns water restrictions on businesses possible unless rainfall improves
Long-term water scarcity could lead to restrictions on businesses in some parts of Scotland unless rainfall improves, experts have warned. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said on Thursday that despite recent rain, water scarcity continues to increase in parts of the north and north-east. The Wick and Helmsdale river catchments have now been raised to moderate water scarcity, and SEPA said the Avon catchment (Spey), the lower Dee and the Water of Feugh in Aberdeenshire and the Helmsdale catchment may reach significant scarcity next week. In may mean restrictions on businesses taking water from the environment will be needed. SEPA said rain over the past week has led to recovery in areas of the west coast, and the Highlands and islands, but the east has remained largely dry. It said that is due in part to the rain shadow effect where moist air loses much of its rain as it moves over mountains, leaving drier conditions on the other side. Scotland has seen one of the driest starts to a year in decades this year, with some parts of the country having had little rain. Meanwhile the spring was the second driest in 100 years in eastern Scotland, SEPA says, and some areas have had below average rainfall for more than 12 months. Wet weather is forecast in the coming week, but SEPA said well above average rainfall will be needed to reverse the effects of the long dry spell. Claire Tunaley, senior hydrologist at SEPA's water resources unit, said: 'By monitoring current river flows at key points across the country, and using rainfall data, soil moisture data, groundwater levels and what we see in the field, we can assess where recovery is happening and where risk remains. 'Our drought risk assessment tool, known as Drat, uses data from river gauging stations to monitor flows closely.' She said if water flow falls below the threshold for 30 days or more, it indicates significant water scarcity and a high risk of ecological impact. She added: 'When rivers reach critical lows, it affects the whole ecosystem – including fish, plants and the wider natural balance. 'Protecting these ecosystems now helps maintain the long-term health of our rivers.' Eilidh Johnston, SEPA's senior manager in water industry and rural economy, said: 'SEPA has a clear duty to protect Scotland's rivers and water environment, not just today but for the future. 'When conditions reach the point where any further reduction in flow would risk damage to the environment, we must act. 'We know that water is vital for people, farms and businesses, which is why we've been working so closely with abstractors and membership bodies to provide information about how the water scarcity situation has been developing in recent weeks. 'But when river levels fall too low for too long, we must act to prevent long-term harm to the environment and future supplies. 'Any regulatory action we take is based on robust evidence-based assessments, using up-to-date scientific data and hydrological analysis. 'That includes measured river levels, rainfall records, soil moisture and weather forecasts – as well as insights from our field staff. 'If restrictions are necessary, they will be targeted, time-limited and lifted as soon as the conditions allow. We want to support Scotland's water resilience, and we make our decisions based on science and hard facts. 'That's what powers Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan and our weekly assessments. This is a co-ordinated, evidence-driven response to serious environmental pressure.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway river levels begin to recover as dry spell ends
The Annan, Nith, Dee and Cree catchment areas have been downgraded from 'moderate scarcity' to 'alert' level. Rivers levels in Dumfries and Galloway are beginning to recover after rain finally arrived in the region. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has downgraded the Annan, Nith, Dee and Cree catchment areas from 'moderate scarcity' to 'alert' level after the warm, dry spell came to an end. However, the recovery may only be temporary and, even with recent rain, groundwater remains low in many places. SEPA's head of environmental performance, Kenny Boag, said: 'We've had rain in some areas but not widespread recovery. There has been some relief in parts of the west, for many river catchments the long-term deficit remains. "It's a complex picture, and while we welcome signs of recovery in some areas, most of the east coast continues to experience water stress. 'Many catchments remain under significant pressure and the water environment is still in a vulnerable state. More rain is forecast over the next few days, but we need sustained rainfall in the right places over weeks, not just days, to make a real difference. 'SEPA continue to work closely with abstractors and sectors using water from our environment in the areas facing sustained water scarcity. Clear, early communication is being provided so no one is caught off guard. "We know how important water is to the Scottish economy, particularly sectors like farming, food and drink, and energy - but we also know that without a healthy water environment those sectors cannot thrive. 'Balancing economic and environmental needs is at the heart of our role as a regulator. If restrictions are put in place, they will be proportionate and in place for a short time as possible. "But we will act where necessary to protect the water environment because it underpins Scotland's economy, communities and way of life.' SEPA is continuing to ask farmers, producers and manufacturers to continue using water efficiently and manage this shared resource responsibly. Advice is available on SEPA's website, as well as from SEPA staff contacting abstractors with licences in areas at risk.
