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SEPA introduce temporary water restrictions to protect Borders rivers

The restrictions affect 23 licensed water abstractions, primarily supporting agricultural activities, and are designed to ensure enough water remains in rivers to protect fish, wildlife and the wider environment during a period of exceptionally low river flows.

Significant Water Scarcity is declared when river flows remain below the recognised Q95 low flow threshold for 30 consecutive days. Q95 is a recognised benchmark in hydrology, calculated using a catchment's long-term river flow record, and represents the lowest five per cent of flows. When river flows remain below this threshold for a sustained period, the risk of harm to rivers and the wildlife that depends on them increases, triggering temporary restrictions on licensed water abstraction.

SEPA's Drought Risk Assessment Tool uses current river flow data from hundreds of monitoring sites across Scotland. This science-led approach tracks environmental conditions and ensures decisions are based on measured river conditions. The tool is available online, allowing anyone to monitor river conditions and water scarcity levels across Scotland.

Shona McConnell, SEPA's Head of Compliance, said:

"River flows in the Whiteadder Water and Berwickshire area have now remained below the recognised Q95 low flow threshold for 30 consecutive days. At this point, the risk to aquatic life and the wider river environment becomes significant, which is why these temporary restrictions are now required."

"We've been warning about water scarcity since May and have been working closely with abstractors and key partners throughout the summer to help them prepare for this possibility. These restrictions should not come as a surprise to those affected."

"Our officers will be out in the affected catchments, working directly with licence holders to help them understand and comply with the temporary restrictions and answer any questions they may have."

"While some rain is forecast over the coming days, recovery depends on sustained improvements in river flows rather than rainfall on a single day. We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely and lift restrictions as soon as conditions allow."

SEPA have worked closely with organisations including Fisheries Management Scotland, NFU Scotland, the Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish Golf throughout the summer to help prepare for the possibility of restrictions.

It is too soon to know whether rain over the weekend will bring sufficient recovery to the areas most impacted by the dry weather. SEPA continues to monitor conditions closely with the Lower Tweed, Lunan Water, Lower Don, Fife (East Neuk) and North Fife approaching Significant Water Scarcity next week if river flows do not recover.

Notes to editors

National release linked to weekly water scarcity report on 23^rd July 2026 - More parts of Scotland move into water scarcity as prolonged dry weather continues

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 - 23rd July 2026

• 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.