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Seven areas at Significant Water Scarcity as conditions continue to shift

Tay Estuary (North), Whiteadder Water and Berwickshire Coastal have moved to Significant Scarcity this week. They join North Fife, Fife (East Neuk), Stonehaven and North Esk at the highest level on SEPA’s five-tier water scarcity scale.

Low to very low river flows continue across much of eastern Scotland, while most western catchments are experiencing normal to high flows.

Across Scotland, 32 areas are currently at Normal Conditions, five are at Early Warning, five at Alert, five at Moderate Scarcity and seven at Significant Scarcity.

The changing picture highlights the importance of continued monitoring of individual catchments. Conditions have improved in some areas without necessarily returning to normal, while elsewhere very low river flows have persisted for around six weeks. Full recovery of water resources can take a long time following such conditions.

In North Fife and Fife (East Neuk), river flows have remained below the Significant Scarcity threshold for 46 consecutive days. Stonehaven and North Esk have experienced 45 consecutive days of very low flows.

Weekly report, daily monitoring

SEPA publish a national Water Scarcity Report each week during the season, but river conditions are monitored daily through the Drought Risk Assessment Tool.

The tool tracks the number of consecutive days river flows have been very low. When very low flows persist for 30 days, an area can reach Significant Water Scarcity and restrictions on licensed water abstraction may be introduced to protect rivers and the wildlife they support.

Changes to abstraction licences do not wait for the next weekly report. River conditions are assessed daily, allowing restrictions to be introduced where necessary and lifted when flows recover sufficiently.

Abstractors in Lunan Water have also been advised of the potential for restrictions if very low river flows continue. Current monitoring indicates the area could reach Significant Scarcity in around 10 days, although changes in river flows could alter that position.

Eilidh Johnston, SEPA Senior Leader in Compliance, said:

“The picture across Scotland remains very mixed. Most western catchments are experiencing normal to high river flows, while parts of eastern Scotland continue to face significant pressure after a prolonged dry spring and summer.

“Some eastern catchments have now experienced very low river flows for around six weeks. In others, conditions have improved enough to reset the count, while elsewhere pressures are beginning to build again.

“That is why close monitoring matters. Our weekly report gives a national picture, but conditions in individual rivers are monitored daily. That means we can see where pressure is increasing or easing and make evidence-led decisions about when action is needed to protect the water environment.

“It also means the position can change between weekly reports. Where restrictions on licensed abstraction are needed, those decisions are based on the conditions we are seeing in rivers, rather than waiting for the next weekly update.”

Pressure remains concentrated in the east

Ground conditions remain dry across parts of eastern Scotland, with only limited improvement seen in recent weeks.

Groundwater levels remain low to very low across much of eastern Scotland, while levels elsewhere are generally normal or above. Loch levels are generally normal to above normal.

The differences between catchments mean recent weather alone cannot provide a complete picture of water scarcity. River flows can respond quickly, while groundwater, soil moisture and the effects of prolonged dry conditions can take longer to recover.

SEPA continue to work directly with abstractors and other water users in affected catchments to help them understand local conditions, prepare for potential restrictions and build resilience to future periods of water scarcity.

The latest Water Scarcity Report, current scarcity levels and the Drought Risk Assessment Tool are available on SEPA’s website.

Notes to editors

Current water scarcity levels

• Significant Scarcity: Stonehaven, North Esk, Fife (East Neuk), North Fife, Tay Estuary (North), Whiteadder Water, Berwickshire coastal

• Moderate Scarcity: Esk (Angus), Firth of Tay, Firth of Forth, Tyne (Lothian), Tweed

• Alert: Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Almond, Dee (Aberdeen)

• Early warning: Spey, Tay, Cree, Findhorn, Earn

• All areas not mentioned above are at Normal conditions

Current data and conditions

The latest information on water scarcity and river conditions is available through:

SEPA's Water Scarcity Situation Report – 24 September 2026 – the weekly assessment of water scarcity conditions across Scotland.

SEPA's Drought Risk Assessment Tool – shows low-flow monitoring stations and how close areas are to Significant Scarcity

SEPA's River Level Network – current river-level information from monitoring stations across Scotland

Rainfall data for Scotland – current and historic rainfall information

Water scarcity and flooding

Scotland can experience flooding and water scarcity at the same time. The two are not contradictory.

Flooding can result from intense rainfall over a relatively short period, while water scarcity reflects the effects of prolonged dry conditions on rivers soils and groundwater. Conditions can therefore vary considerably between different parts of Scotland and individual catchments.

Rain in an area also does not automatically mean water scarcity conditions will improve. After prolonged dry weather, intense rainfall can cause river levels to rise rapidly and lead to localised flooding, but those rises may be short lived. For water scarcity conditions to recover, river flows need to improve sufficiently and remain higher over time.

Dry soils and low groundwater levels can also take longer to recover, meaning sustained rainfall over longer periods may be needed to reverse the effects of prolonged dry conditions.

Water scarcity levels

SEPA uses five levels to describe water scarcity: Normal Conditions, Early Warning, Alert, Moderate Scarcity and Significant Scarcity.

The levels reflect increasing pressure on the water environment. At Significant Scarcity, SEPA may temporarily restrict abstractions from the environment where necessary to protect rivers and ecosystems.

Water scarcity levels relate to the water environment and are not an assessment of public drinking water supplies.

DRAT stations and significant scarcity

SEPA monitors a network of long-established low-flow gauging stations across Scotland to identify when river flows have remained unusually low for a sustained period.

The Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) shows how many days each station has been below Q95, a recognised low-flow threshold. When a station reaches 30 days below Q95, the catchments it represents move to Significant Scarcity and SEPA will impose any abstraction restrictions required.

Each station represents a defined Significant Scarcity area, which may contain one river or several catchments. As a result, the number of DRAT stations reaching the threshold and the number of areas at Significant Scarcity may be different.

How long water scarcity can last

Water scarcity does not necessarily end at the end of summer. Conditions can improve or deteriorate depending on rainfall and how rivers, soils and groundwater respond.

Further information and support

The National Water Scarcity Plan explains how water scarcity is monitored and managed in Scotland. 

Further information is available on:

• reporting dry private water supplies, rivers and burns

• advice for abstractors and irrigators during water scarcity