Drought alert as half the country now in ‘red’ dry zone

SCOTLAND is facing drought conditions after an ‘exceptionally dry’ three months, environmental chiefs have warned.

Rain has been so scarce that half the country is now ranked in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s highest ‘extremely dry’ red category.

Only the North-West Highlands and Western Isles are not in the category red zone.

The agency’s latest water scarcity report, published yesterday, said: ‘Groundwater levels continue to fall steadily across the country. Levels in the North-East of Scotland remain exceptionally low, and in the South-West and East, levels are also starting to fall below the normal range for the time of year. Above average rainfall would be required to reduce the drought risk over the summer.’

Arable farmer Willie Thomson, from Haddington, East Lothian, said: ‘Some crops of wheat and barley, particularly those sown late this spring, are stressed and suffering. That means lower yields of both grain and straw.’

On Thursday, Scottish Water said reservoirs were being drained by record consumption as people stayed at home due to Covid-19. Normal ‘per head’ consumption is 165 litres per day but this shot up to 198 litres in April, and then to 203 litres last month.

Scottish Water said the recent heavy rain had done little to replenish diminishing stocks.

Tomorrow should provide the best of the weekend weather, with 22C-24C (72F-75F) expected for Glasgow.

‘Stressed and suffering’