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Scots urged to save water after driest start to year in decades


By PA News



Scottish Water is calling on people to take care when using supplies throughout the warmer months after Scotland experienced its driest start to the year since 1964.

The water supplier said it is working to ensure its supply systems will be able to satisfy demand as dry weather continues.

It comes as latest data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) shows all of Scotland is now at some level of water scarcity.

Most of mainland Scotland’s east coast has now moved to “moderate scarcity” level, while most of the rest of the country is at “alert” and only the Inner and Outer Hebrides remain at “early warning”.

Scotland has experienced the driest January to April since 1964, with only 59% of the long-term average rainfall over this period.

Water usage has increased by 150 million litres per day across Scotland since the middle of April, with average reservoir levels at 81% – 10% lower than average for this time of year.

Scottish Water said Scots are using an average of 178 litres of water per person per day, which is higher than in England and Wales where people use an average of 137 litres per person per day.

The supplier said with the current spell of dry and warm weather continuing, people should make an effort to save water by taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when brushing teeth, and using watering cans rather than hoses where appropriate.

It also said washing machines and dishwashers should only be used when fully loaded, and buckets and sponges should be favoured over hoses to wash cars.

Scottish Water chief executive Alex Plant said: “We’re working hard to maintain normal supplies for all customers and would ask that they use water efficiently to protect this precious resource.

“We believe that a large part of the additional water use at the moment is in gardens, so we would ask that customers are mindful of how much water they use there.

Turning the tap off while brushing teeth can help maintain water supplies (PA)
Turning the tap off while brushing teeth can help maintain water supplies (PA)

“Scotland’s climate is clearly changing and, as a country, we need to ensure we adapt both by investing appropriately in water infrastructure – which Scottish Water is doing – and ensuring we do what we can to use water more efficiently in our homes and businesses.

“Water is always worth saving and by taking simple steps to reduce the volume used around the home and garden, we can make our country’s water go even further and help maintain normal supplies.”

Places affected by peak water usage include Gullane and Aberlady in East Lothian, Potterton, Middleton Park and Belhelvie in Aberdeenshire, Maybole, Turnberry and Maidens in South Ayrshire, Kippen and Balfron in west Stirlingshire, and Strathpeffer in Ross-shire.

To help mitigate the consequences of peak water usage, Scottish Water is taking supplies from the Spey, pumping water from the river to its supply in Moray.

The water supplier is due to launch its Water is Always Worth Saving campaign next month, with the aim of showing the public they should be conscious of saving water.

Claire Tunaley, senior hydrologist in the water resources unit at Sepa, said: “We’re seeing the kind of conditions we normally associate with late summer in some places – and it’s only May.

“Groundwater and river levels across the east are already hitting record lows. In Fife and Aberdeenshire, we’re seeing some of the driest conditions in living memory for this time of year.

“With parts of Scotland now at 11 months of below average rainfall, it will take above-average rainfall over an extended period to recover to normal levels, especially for groundwater levels.

“Our message is clear: if you abstract water from our environment – whether you work in agriculture, energy, industry, distilling, food and drink or the leisure sector – you must take action now to help protect your operations and help safeguard Scotland’s rivers and wildlife in the weeks ahead.”

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