Lower Tweed reaches Significant Water Scarcity despite autumn rainfall
Date published: 08 October 2026
The Lower Tweed has reached Significant Water Scarcity, as prolonged dry conditions continue to affect rivers across eastern Scotland despite recent rainfall.
The latest weekly Water Scarcity Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows that the Lower Tweed has reached the highest level on Scotland's five-tier water scarcity scale, just a week after improvements elsewhere meant no areas were at Significant Scarcity.
SEPA warned last week that the Lower Tweed was approaching Significant Scarcity and could reach this level without further sustained rainfall.
The Tyne (Lothian) and Tweed catchments remain at Moderate Scarcity, while low to very low river flows continue across much of eastern Scotland. Several rivers have fallen below recognised low-flow thresholds again this week.
Although recent rainfall has largely been within the normal range for this time of year, it has not been sufficient to reverse the effects of prolonged dry conditions in eastern catchments. More sustained rainfall is needed to bring significant and lasting improvement.
Eastern rivers remain under pressure
Conditions remain very different across Scotland. While much of eastern Scotland continues to experience low river flows, the west is generally seeing normal to high flows, with very high flows in parts of the northwest.
Groundwater levels remain low across much of eastern Scotland, although levels in Dumfries and northern Scotland are generally within the normal range for the time of year. Most monitored lochs are at normal to high levels, although Lochindorb, east of Inverness, remains low.
Temporary restrictions on some licences to abstract water from the environment are in place in the Lower Tweed to protect rivers and the wildlife that depend on them.
While most seasonal agricultural irrigation has now finished, restrictions are still necessary where river flows have remained exceptionally low. These are kept under regular review and lifted when conditions improve sufficiently.
Stephen McGuire, Senior Hydrologist at SEPA, said:
“Last week's rainfall brought welcome improvements across Scotland, but we warned that parts of the east remained vulnerable. The Lower Tweed has now reached Significant Scarcity, showing just how fragile that recovery has been.
“After months of dry conditions, a few days of rainfall are not necessarily enough to restore river flows or replenish groundwater. What matters is how much rain falls, where it falls and whether it is sustained for long enough to make a lasting difference.
“Although we're now into October, the effects of the dry spring and summer are still being felt in our rivers. Water scarcity doesn't simply end when the seasons change.
“We may see further rainfall over the coming days, but it will take more prolonged rainfall to bring a sustained recovery in the areas that remain under pressure.
“SEPA will continue to monitor conditions closely and work with businesses that take water from the environment. Restrictions remain an important part of protecting our rivers when flows are exceptionally low, even where seasonal demand for water has reduced.”
SEPA will continue to publish weekly Water Scarcity Reports while conditions require monitoring, providing information to help businesses and other water users understand changing conditions and plan ahead.
The latest report, advice for abstractors and irrigators, and SEPA's Drought Risk Assessment Tool are available on the Water Scarcity page.
Notes to editors
Current water scarcity levels – 8 October 2026
Significant Scarcity: Lower Tweed.
Moderate Scarcity: Tyne (Lothian), Tweed.
Other classifications: see latest weekly Water Scarcity Report.
Water scarcity and abstraction restrictions
SEPA use five levels to describe water scarcity: Normal Conditions, Early Warning, Alert, Moderate Scarcity and Significant Scarcity.
Significant Scarcity is reached when river flows at a representative monitoring station remain below Q95, a recognised exceptionally low-flow threshold, for 30 consecutive days.
At Significant Scarcity, SEPA impose temporary restrictions on relevant water abstraction licences where required to protect the water environment. Restrictions are targeted, kept under review and lifted when river flows recover sufficiently.
Most seasonal agricultural irrigation has now ended, meaning the practical impact of restrictions may be more limited than during the peak growing season.
Why rainfall does not always end water scarcity
Water scarcity reflects the cumulative effects of prolonged dry conditions. Short periods of rain may temporarily raise river levels without replenishing groundwater or restoring river flows over a sustained period.
Conditions can also vary considerably between different parts of Scotland.
Water scarcity classifications relate to the water environment and are not an assessment of public drinking water supplies.