Scots urged to use less water as reservoir levels remain low despite heavy rain

People are being urged to save water as reservoir levels remain up to 28% below average despite recent heavy rain.

Scottish Water said that following the driest spring in Scotland in 70 years, and a drier than average August in the east, many reservoirs are below normal levels.

Average reservoir levels across the country are at 69% this week, which is 13% lower than the average of 82% for this time of year.

In the east of Scotland, average reservoir levels are down 2% this week to 53%, which is 28% below the average of 81% for this time of year.

Scottish Water is urging people to help protect resources by using less water by taking shorter showers, using a watering can instead of a hose in the garden, and avoiding sprinklers.

Separately, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has placed restrictions on the amount of water that can be diverted from the natural environment by farms and businesses in eight catchment areas around Scotland.

John Griffen, Scottish Water’s water operations general manager, said: “Although there has been some rainfall, which we very much welcome because we need it, this has not been prolonged or widespread enough to undo the damage to water resources caused by month after month of dry weather since last winter.

“We’re working hard to maintain normal supplies for all customers, and there is no immediate threat to this, but we are again asking that they use water as efficiently as possible to help us protect what is, even in Scotland, a precious resource.

“We still have significant challenges but if everyone does their bit it will undoubtedly help.

“Customers might not think what they do individually will make any difference, but it absolutely does.”

Scottish Water said it has seen demand for water decrease in the past week by between 50 and 60 million litres per day – enough to supply about half of Fife with water for a day – but it is urging customers to help save even more.

It said the drop in demand is partly due to the fact that there has been rain in many areas recently and people have therefore been less likely to use water in their gardens.

Scots use 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, Scottish Water said.

The company is advising people to help save water through other measures such as turning the tap off when brushing teeth, only using washing machines and dishwashers when fully loaded, washing the car with a bucket and sponge rather than a hose, and repairing any leaking toilets.

It has also warned people to stay away from the edges of reservoirs as low water levels can expose deep mud, silt and soft ground which might look firm but is not safe to walk on.

The east of Scotland had a particularly dry start to the year while the rest of the country also had dry weather.

Scottish Water said in the east of Scotland Met Office region, it was the sixth driest spring on record (out of 190 years), while the January to May period was the driest since 1953 and the fifth driest in 190 years.

Rainfall for June to July was closer to average across most of the country, while in August there was another period of below average rainfall in the east.

Earlier this week Sepa expanded restrictions on water use to the Lower Spey and Berwickshire catchment areas after they reached significant scarcity – the highest level of water scarcity.

Last week, restrictions on water use were imposed in six other catchment areas: the Upper Don; Lower Don; Lower Tweed; North Fife; Ythan; and Deveron; after they were raised to significant scarcity.