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Scotland faces record water scarcity with 17 catchments at Significant

While it is difficult to compare directly with previous years because area boundaries have been refined over time, this year stands out for the scale and duration of low rivers flows. In the Lower Spey, for example, the 2025 season has seen the highest number of low-flow days in a 70-year record. 

In response, SEPA have imposed temporary restrictions on licensed abstractions in affected areas. The total number of licence restrictions put in place so far this year is around 270, the highest number SEPA have ever issued.  

Significant Scarcity is now affecting the Upper Tweed, Mid-Tweed and Lauderdale, Tyne (Lothian), Fife (East Neuk), Leven (Fife), Lunan Water, Lower Dee and Water of Feugh, South Ugie Water, River Findhorn, Findhorn (East), River Avon, Lower Spey, Deveron, Upper and Lower Don (Aberdeenshire), Ythan and North Fife areas. 

All affected licences holders have been issued with letters explaining what they need to do, with the time and date the restrictions come into effect. SEPA officers are out in catchments daily, monitoring conditions and supporting abstractors.  

The River Lossie will reach Significant Scarcity on Friday. Unless there is sustained rainfall over the coming days the Brodie, River Helmsdale, Cromarty Firth (North), Inverness (East), River Nairn, Kyle of Sutherland and River Carron areas are due to go to Significant Scarcity next week.  

While some rain is forecast, it is not yet clear whether this will be enough to see rivers recover enough to lift restrictions. SEPA will monitor the situation closely.  

Regional conditions

North-East 

• Significant Scarcity: Deveron, Ythan, Upper and Lower Don, Lower Dee and Water of Feugh
• Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Dee  

Speyside 

• Significant Scarcity: Lower Spey, River Findhorn, Findhorn East, River Avon, and from Friday the River Lossie
• Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Findhorn (Brodie and River Nairn), Mid and Upper Spey 

Highlands and Islands 

• Moderate Scarcity: Helmsdale, Shin, Conon, Inverness (East)
• Alert: River Naver, Thurso, Orkney
• Early Warning: Shetland 

Central - East 

• Significant Scarcity: East Neuk of Fife, Leven, Lunan Water, North Fife, Tyne
• Moderate Scarcity: Almond and the rest of the Esk, Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay catchments,  

South - East 

• Significant Scarcity: Upper Tweed, Mid-Tweed & Lauderdale
• Moderate Scarcity: Rest of the Tweed catchment.  

Unusual year of pressure

This year has been highly unusual, with repeated dry weather keeping rivers under strain throughout 2025. 

Rivers naturally cope with changes in flow as part of their annual cycle, but extended low flows increase pressure on river ecology and recovery takes longer. Repeated low-flow years increase the risk of long-term or even permanent changes.  

To better understand the impacts, SEPA has increased ecological monitoring. Additional assessments have been carried out over the summer to assess impacts on fish, in-stream ecology, and water quality. 

David Harley, SEPA’s Head of Water and Planning, said: 

“With 17 catchments now at Significant Scarcity, and more abstraction licences restricted than ever before, Scotland’s rivers are under record pressure. 

“Restrictions are always a last resort, but they are essential to protect the environment and all water users. The National Water Scarcity Plan sets out an approach which ensures the correct balance between protecting the environment and providing water for human and economic activity. It has clear thresholds for when restrictions are imposed and lifted, based on detailed monitoring of river levels underpinned by evidence and expertise in relation to the impact of extended low flows on river ecology. 

“This year has been highly unusual - we’ve not seen water scarcity conditions persist for this length of time before. It underlines the importance of learning from these events and planning for how Scotland uses and protects its precious water resources in the face of climate change.”   

Notes to editors

Number of licence restrictions

Additional licence restrictions will be introduced if more catchments reach Significant Scarcity and lifted as they recover. The figure refers to the total number of restrictions issued so far this year, not the number in place at any one time as these could change daily.

Audio file of Rachel Harding-Hill, SEPA Senior Manager Water and Land is available to download from our assetbank. You do not need to register to use, but only 20 seconds can be heard until you download.

Timestamps are: 

• 00.00 - 00.06 Name and job title
• 00.06 - 01.00 What’s the current situation with water scarcity in Scotland?
• 01.00 - 01.33 What does this mean for people and businesses?
• 01.33 - 01.52 What is SEPA doing to manage this?
• 01.52 - 02.22 What can people do to help?
• 02.22 - 03.08 How confident are you that Scotland can cope with this? 

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 - 11th September 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

Anyone can track conditions via SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT), which shows colour-coded stations across Scotland and how close they are to Significant Scarcity.  

Clicking on an individual station will show how many days it has been below Q95, a recognised low flow threshold. When a station reaches 30 days the catchments linked to the station will be moved to Significant Scarcity, and SEPA will move to impose any restrictions required.     

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. 

Each station may represent a single river or a group of catchments. For this reason, the number of DRAT stations and areas at Significant Scarcity may be different. 

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 risk of water scarcity, monitor their water use, and plan ahead for a range of weather conditions. Find further advice for abstractors and irrigators on our website.