Residents urged to save water as Dundee reservoir remains less than half full

Tayside residents have been urged to conserve water as a vital reservoir near Dundee remains less than half full after a prolonged dry period.

In the Angus Glens, pipes are being constructed to allow reservoirs to be replenished with water from the River Isla.

Currently, the levels of the Loch of Lintrathen and Backwater Reservoirs are 43%. Usually as Scotland enters the winter months, reservoirs would be expected to be around 82% full.

Figures from September show the area had its driest year in more than half a century.

Scottish Water’s economic demand manager, Brian McCarthy, said: “Normally we would be at 100%-full after the winter with snow-melt and the likes, but we didn’t get that this year, so we started from a lower position.

Backwater Reservoir is a reservoir in north west Angus, Scotland STV News

“And then the reservoirs have drawn down as you would expect as people use water throughout the year and we just simply haven’t had the normal recharge of rainfall that we would expect.”

If these trends continue, Scottish Water is concerned that the winter and spring refill will not replenish levels enough, leading to greater water supply challenges next year.

John Griffen, Scottish Water’s water operations general manager, said: “Despite some recent rainfall, the current challenge dates back to last winter which didn’t provide the recovery to our reservoir levels we had hoped.

“We’re working hard to maintain normal supplies for all customers, however if we have another relatively dry winter and spring, we could face more serious supply challenges next summer. We need everyone to do their bit.

“We’re asking our customers to use water as efficiently as possible to help us protect what is – even in Scotland – a precious natural resource.”