The climate challenge - Managing water scarcity

Despite Scotland’s reputation as a wet country, climate trends are shifting. Extended dry periods are becoming more common, increasing the risk of water scarcity.  

Last year was the first year in some time that Scotland did not experience any significant water scarcity, thanks to more favourable rainfall patterns. However, the return of warnings so early in 2025, highlights the increasing unpredictability of our climate and the need for long-term adaptation. 

Each week throughout the summer months, we issue our Water Scarcity Report, offering critical insight into Scotland’s water resource outlook. The weekly update equips key industries, such as agriculture, tourism and the food and drink sector, with early warnings of potential shortages, allowing licensed businesses to plan and adjust operations in response to changing conditions. 

2025 has been a record-breaking year of dry conditions. In the first Water Scarcity Report of 2025, published in March, we already identified two regions at Alert level for potential shortages and by May all of Scotland was at some level of water scarcity. Record breaking conditions were being witnessed with groundwater levels in Fife and Angus at their lowest April averages on record, with Newton of Falkland recording the lowest level for April in 28 years. Records for the River Dee in Aberdeenshire going back 97 years showed flows were at their second lowest for so early in the year, only 1938 was drier.  

By July we were heading into our fourth month of water scarcity with six catchments at Moderate Scarcity, four at Alert and 11 at Early Warning. Even when Storm Floris hit in August, bringing heavy rain to the west and some localised showers elsewhere, most of the rainfall fell in areas not affected by water scarcity.  

With the Ythan and North Fife catchments reaching Significant Scarcity in August, the highest level of water scarcity, we had to take action to protect the sustainability of local rivers by restricting the amount of water that can be taken from the environment in these areas. At the end of September, the Lower Spey has recorded below-average rainfall in every single month of 2025 so far. After months of below-average rainfall a further peak of 17 catchments reached Significant Scarcity and the total number of licence restrictions put in place so far this year is around 270, the highest number we have ever issued. 

Our role  

We lead the way in monitoring, managing and safeguarding Scotland’s vital water environments. With a diverse range of tools and technologies at our fingertips, we deliver impactful solutions that ensure these natural resources are protected for generations to come. These include: 

• Monitoring and forecasting - Our Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) tracks river flows daily and predicts areas at risk, helping water users plan ahead. 

• Abstraction management - We enforce restrictions in vulnerable catchments to prevent over-extraction and protect aquatic ecosystems. 

• Guidance for water users - We provide businesses with advice on water-efficient practices and alternative sourcing methods. 

• Strategic planning - We provide a long-term framework for sustainable water use, ensuring Scotland’s supply can meet future needs. 

The National Water Scarcity Plan sets out how resources are managed during prolonged dry weather, balancing environmental protection with the needs of people, businesses and the wider economy. 

We know how important water is to the Scottish economy, particularly sectors like farming, food and drink, and energy. We also know that without a healthy water environment those sectors cannot thrive. As an effective regulator, our role is to balance the needs of businesses with the health of the environment they rely on. It's crucial that the environment doesn’t become so stressed that it struggles to recover, which would reduce the water resources available to those businesses in the long term. 

How to protect your business from water scarcity 

• Always monitor your water usage and plan for managing it efficiently in a range of conditions, with equipment kept in good working order.  

• Understand the risk of water scarcity in your area and to your business. 

• Review your current infrastructure and work out the costs and benefits of abstraction and the value of water to your business – this will help you to plan investments in equipment and infrastructure. 

• Consider if there are more innovative ways of working that would improve your water use efficiency. 

Planning ahead 

Recovery will depend on above-average rainfall through the autumn and winter, but long-term resilience depends on how we plan, adapt and change our relationship with water. Water is a precious resource, and building resilience to scarcity will be vital for our environment, our communities and our businesses.