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Lower Spey and Berwickshire catchments move to Significant Scarcity as rain fails to bring relief

The move comes after months of below-average rainfall that has left rivers at critically low levels.  Last week six other catchments (the Upper Don and Lower Don, Lower Tweed, North Fife, Ythan and Deveron) were raised to Significant Scarcity, underlining the growing pressure on Scotland’s water environment.  

Heavy rain did fall in parts of Scotland over the weekend, with Flood Alerts issued, but it did not reach the areas where it was most needed. Even where showers were heavy, they have done little to reverse months of dry conditions. 

The escalation to Significant Scarcity means restrictions for water abstractors. On the Lower Spey, home to a number of distilleries, and in Berwickshire, where farmers use water for irrigation, notices are being issued to those affected. These restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible, but they are essential to protect the long-term health of our rivers. 

SEPA officers have been active across the areas where restrictions came in last week and report good compliance so far. Businesses and land managers understand the importance pf protecting rivers and many have been voluntarily working to reduce pressures on the environment over several months now. 

David Harley, Head of Water and Planning for SEPA, said: 

“With two more areas moving to Significant Scarcity there are now eight catchments across Scotland at the highest level. The science is clear; months of below average rainfall have left rivers at critically low flows. Restrictions are not optional - they're essential to safeguard our environment. 

“We have been warning about the risk of water scarcity since the Spring, and communicating with abstractors for several months now, so it’s not surprising that we’ve had to issue further restrictions. We know this is a challenging time, but we're encouraged by the good levels of compliance we're seeing on the ground. People realise that taking action now is vital to protect Scotland’s rivers and support their recovery when wetter conditions return.” 

Further river catchments in the east area are around a week away from reaching the 30 days at Q95 trigger for Significant Scarcity. SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) is updated every day.

SEPA continues to monitor and report weekly on river and groundwater levels. More information, guidance and advice can be found on SEPA's water scarcity page.  

Notes to Editors

SEPA weekly media release 28th August 2025 - 
Six areas of Scotland now at Significant Scarcity as rivers remain low

Water scarcity levels

• 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. 

Data sources

• SEPA Water Scarcity situation report - 28th August 2025
• SEPA’s river level network - Find Scottish water levels information
• Rainfall data for Scotland - Scottish Rainfall Data
• DRAT - Water scarcity data - provided by Scottish Environment Protection Agency

DRAT stations and Significant Scarcity

Significant scarcity is reached when river flows have been very low for 30 or more days. We use a tool called the Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) to set significant scarcity level. 

DRAT is a network of flow gauging stations that SEPA monitor across Scotland and are used to set significant water scarcity when flows have been low for a sustained period of time. 

Data has been collected at these stations for a long period of time, so this allows us to give context to what is currently happening with the amount of flow in rivers relative to what you would normally expect. 

The river flow stations are each used as a representation of the conditions over an area, called a significant water scarcity area. The area and representative gauging stations are displayed on the tool.

Further support and useful links

The National Water Scarcity Plan explains how water resources will be managed prior to and during periods of prolonged dry weather. This is to ensure the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing resource for human and economic activity.

Report dry private water supplies and rivers and burns in your area to help SEPA assess water scarcity stress.

All water abstractors should be aware of the potential risk of water scarcity this summer, monitor their water use, and plan ahead for a range of weather conditions. Find further advice for abstractors and irrigators on our website.