Water abstraction restrictions start in Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has introduced the country’s first water scarcity restrictions of 2025 following prolonged dry weather and worsening conditions.

Farmers and businesses in parts of eastern Scotland are restricted from water abstraction as the Ythan and North Fife catchments have reached significant scarcity, the highest level of water scarcity.

Sepa said the measures have been put in place to protect the sustainability of local rivers and is writing directly to every affected licence holder to inform them of the restrictions.

See also: Water abstraction curbs loom for Scottish farmers

Rainfall data shows every month of 2025 has been drier than average on Scotland’s east coast, and in some areas the deficit stretches back to June 2024.

Sepa’s head of environmental performance, Chris Dailly, said:

“We recognise the challenges that farmers and other businesses face, but no one should be caught off guard – we’ve been speaking directly to licence holders across the summer.”

Those who are abstracting water, he added, should already have plans in place to reduce volumes, stagger abstractions and follow the conditions of their licences.

With about 40% less rainfall than the long-term average, the prolonged shortfall, combined with a warm, sunny spring and summer, has left rivers, soils and groundwater under pressure. 

Building resilience

NFU Scotland’s food and farming senior policy manager, David Michie, said water restrictions in increasing areas across Scotland were hitting growers, with key crops, such as broccoli, still needing irrigation at this stage.

Mr Michie added that this is another reminder that climate change is impacting Scottish farming now, and while farmers are adapting, long-term government support and co-investment in infrastructure to help manage recurring water scarcity is needed.

“Building resilience must be a shared priority between growers, regulators and policymakers,” he said.

Sustained stress

Other catchments are said to be under sustained stress, including the Deveron, Don (Aberdeenshire) and Esk (Angus), and could be escalated to significant scarcity in the coming days if there is no consistent rainfall.

The Firth of Tay and Tyne (Lothian) has been at moderate scarcity for an extended period, while the Spey, Almond and Tweed catchments were escalated to moderate scarcity last week.

Licence holders in these areas are being advised to manage abstractions carefully. 

There remains uncertainty over the influence of the remnants of ex-hurricane Erin later this week, and conditions are being monitored. 

Sepa continues to report weekly on river and groundwater levels and restrictions are temporary, set to be lifted as soon as conditions allow.