Water usage ban looms

Businesses to face curbs as drought crisis worsens

BUSINESSES will face bans on water usage for the first time ever as Scotland’s drought crisis deepens.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) confirmed parts of the country have moved to the highest alert possible for water scarcity amid the ongoing dry weather.

Mid and north Fife is now seeing ‘significant’ water scarcity, with parts of the Tweed catchment area ‘counting down’ to a similar level.

It comes as the Met Office is forecasting a return to ‘heatwave conditions’ for parts of the UK next week. The red alert means that Sepa can suspend business licences for abstracting water in line with the National Water Scarcity Plan.

Agricultural businesses are most likely to be hit, with whisky distilleries and golf courses also affected. Sepa bosses confirmed they will meet farmers to discuss exact measures next week, but stressed any restrictions would be for ‘the minimum time necessary’.

David Harley, interim chief officer, circular economy, for Sepa, said: ‘Sepa understands the impacts on businesses facing these difficult conditions and supports sectors reliant on water all year round on ways to become more resilient.

‘However, it is vital we work together now to ensure the sustainability of local water environments for all who rely on them.

‘It is clear a significant area of Scotland’s water environment is stressed from the prolonged dry weather this summer, and conditions are only going to get worse as this continues. Although there has been some recent rainfall in the east, it is not enough to recover the longer-term deficits.

‘As we’ve seen across Europe, water scarcity is more common as a result of climate change.’

An area is moved to a ‘significant’ water scarcity when average river flows in the region have remained ‘exceptionally low’ for more than 30 consecutive days.

The conditions have been attributed to drier weather, with only four of the past 12 months recording above average rainfall.

The ban comes as the National Infrastructure Commission warned households can expect higher water bills to secure future supplies. Sir John Armitt, chairman of the commission, said the price of new infrastucture would mean costs ‘shared fairly between consumers and investors’.