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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
a day ago
- 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.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Why Scotland, one of Europe's wettest countries, needs to get ready for severe drought
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... The rain has come, but is Scotland ready for a future with more drought? Rainfall last Friday signalled the end to an unusually dry and sunny period of weather for many people in Scotland, just in time for the bank holiday weekend. A weather front sweeping across the country brought much needed rainfall to the east, including the first for Leuchars in Fife since April 18 . Scotland as a whole has seen roughly 40 per cent of its usual rainfall from the start of March. This has left reservoirs down to 81 per cent of their capacity , raising concerns that low summer rainfall could lead to issues with water availability. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This follows an unusually dry autumn and winter for central and southern Scotland, according to Met Office data . Meanwhile, the dry conditions in spring have contributed to a record wildfire season with major fires in the Forest of Galloway and Islands of Arran, Bute and Skye. Scotland might be famous for rain, like this downpour in Helensburgh in January, but drought is becoming a real problem, particularly for the east coast (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images Scots use more water Concerns about a lack of water in one of Europe's wettest countries may seem overblown. However, it is important to remember that the heaviest rain falls in the sparsely populated west, whereas there is substantial water demand in the relatively drier and more populated east for public and industrial use. Moreover, such perceptions of a limitless resource may contribute to high water usage. The average Scot uses 180 litres of water a day , considerably more than the 140 litres used by people in England and Wales. It is also possible that the fixed rate most Scottish people pay for their water, rather than metered billing, plays a role. Demands from agriculture and the whisky industry are other key contributors to water use. Whilst the rain has arrived, we aren't out of the woods yet. Most areas across the east of Scotland show moderate water scarcity, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) , and very heavy rainfall would be needed to replenish water levels. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad High demand, low supply Regardless of what the summer brings, this spring may be a harbinger of future drought. Climate change simulations project drier summers in future due to increased evaporative demand from a warmer atmosphere. A NatureScot report found that what was previously a one-in-20-year drought event, based on the period between 1981 and 2000, will occur every three years on average between 2021 and 2040. Areas with a low water supply yet high demand, such as Edinburgh, Lothian, Dundee and Fife are likely to become increasingly exposed to drought. Additionally, water demand is expected to increase in the east of Scotland due to population growth and a demographic shift of people from west to east. Compounding this, water demand rises during a drought – for example, as farmers increase the amount of irrigation – suggesting that Scotland will become increasingly vulnerable to extended dry periods. Consequently, it is clear that steps are needed to increase our water system's resilience to drought. On the demand side, this could include information campaigns to help the public to understand that water is a finite resource and how to use it more efficiently. The largest contributors to domestic water use are toilet flushing and taking a shower or bath. Each minute in the shower uses about ten litres, while a leaky toilet can waste up to 400 litres a day . Additionally, using eco-mode on a washing machine can save around 15 litres . Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Encouragingly, a short-term appeal from Scottish Water to lower water use may have helped in reducing demand by 60 million litres a day last week . Greater drought resilience needed Research by Consumer Scotland recommended that the Scottish Government should update building standards and improve access to information regarding water-efficient appliances. At present, consumers wishing to pay based on what water they use have to spend hundreds of pounds to cover the cost of surveys and the installation of meters . Perhaps making it easier to switch to a metered connection could conserve water and help consumers save money in the long run? Nevertheless, demand-side reductions can only go so far. A 2023 report by the Climate Change Committee, the UK's independent assessor of progress on climate change, noted a lack of drought resilience standards and water-leakage reduction targets in Scotland. The report also criticised the limited awareness and management of interdependencies across infrastructure sectors. Since then, Scottish Water released its Climate Change Adaptation plan which found that investment of £2 billion to £5 billion would be needed by 2050 to maintain the current levels of service. The plan includes measures to reduce the number of customers fed from a single water source, prevent leakage and lower consumption. Scottish Water also aims to build drought response into its operations and water-system plans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Scottish Government consultation about the future of the water industry has indicated that there is support for revisiting current water policy. It is important that the government acts on the results of this consultation to ensure a more effective and adaptable water system. We need to realise that water, particularly clean drinking water, is a precious resource. This spring has taught us that it is not always abundant, even in Scotland. There are signs of progress in identifying the challenges that climate change and demographic shifts will bring to our water system. However, much more work is needed to ensure a drought-resilient future for Scotland.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Every home in Scotland warned to close windows at night after sudden weather shift creates ‘perfect storm'
Experts reveal some handy tips to avoid the 'perfect storm' BUG OFF Every home in Scotland warned to close windows at night after sudden weather shift creates 'perfect storm' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOUSEHOLDS across Scotland are being warned to close their windows at night as a sudden shift in the weather creates a "perfect storm". A mini-heatwave has hit the country for the past few weeks with temperatures soaring to 24C. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Households across Scotland have been urged to keep their windows closed Credit: Getty But the sunny spells have come to an end with heavy downpours sweeping in. And with the temperatures remaining mild, the final week of spring is set to be muggy. This is the perfect conditions for bugs. Experts at My Home Improvements have warned Scottish households that the current weather mix is the "perfect storm for insect explosions", the Scottish Daily Express reports. They also revealed that leaving a bedroom windows open is an invitation to creepy crawlies as "millions of bugs become active during these conditions". The creatures tempted to crawl inside on warm and damp nights are spiders. The eight-legged arachnids often takes shelter in dark corners, bedding or even under furniture. Moths are also tempted inside by bedroom lights which invite them to fly in and circle lamps. They can also settle into clothes, bedding or even your pillows. The mixed warm conditions are also perfect for pesky midges to thrive. TikTok Gardening Hack: Beat the Bugs! To help avoid an insect infestation, experts have revealed some handy tips. You can install magnetic or clip-on insect screens across your window to keep the bugs out, along with using blackout curtains to reduce insect attraction. Keep your windows closed overnight and air the room beforehand. You can also spray the window edges with natural bug repellent such as peppermint or citronella. A spokesperson for My Home Improvements said: "With the weather turning both warm and wet, insects are becoming more active, and open windows at night create an easy entry point. "We always recommend using window screens or restrictors during spring to keep unwanted pests out—especially when lights are on and you're fast asleep. "We understand people want to keep cool during spring nights. But with the current mix of humidity and rainfall, there's no question—bugs are on the move. "If you're sleeping with your window wide open, you're also sleeping with your guard down."
