Despite rain and thunderstorms in the last few days, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are warning against complacency - Scotland's rivers are still under stress.

Photo: River Spey reduced flow May 2025

Large parts of Scotland remain at some level of water scarcity - while rainfall in late May and early June brought localised relief, it has not reversed the 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.

SEPA started issuing warnings about the chance of water scarcity in March, after an exceptionally dry Autumn and Winter.

Spring 2025 was the second driest in more than 100 years, and the driest since 1964 in parts of eastern Scotland. 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.

Since the weekend, rain has been concentrated in the northwest, promoting recovery to Normal Conditions in some areas. DRAT (Drought Risk Assessment Tool) stations have now also reset, including Helmsdale, which was at Significant last week.

Claire Tunaley, Senior Hydrologist – Water Resources Unit, SEPA said:

“It won’t take a heatwave for river levels to fall again. 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.”

Scotland’s water scarcity levels are grounded in current data, not forecasts. SEPA’s team of specialists maintain and calibrate a national network of river flow stations — a science-led system that gives an accurate picture of pressures on our rivers, lochs, and water supplies.

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. 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.

“If you hold an abstraction licence and you're in an area of Moderate Scarcity, don’t be concerned if we get in touch. 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.”

Water scarcity levels definitions

• Early Warning: Conditions are drying. No action required, but abstractors should start preparing.
• Alert: Water levels are falling. SEPA advises voluntary reductions in non-essential water use for abstractors.
• Moderate Scarcity: Environmental impact is clear. Action from abstractors is expected to protect rivers and the species that rely on them.
• Significant Scarcity: Critical river levels. Restrictions on abstraction licences may be imposed.