Sepa’s head of water on how ban will impact on Courier Country

We spoke to Nathan Critchlow-Watton, Sepa’s head of water and planning, about how the ban will impact on Courier Country, and the longer-term implications of climate change on water supplies.

What sort of impact are the restrictions likely to have on farmers in the immediate future?

“We know it’s going to have an impact on some farmers of certain crops.

“Some will have reduced yields, others may see a smaller percentage of their crops viable for market.

“It’s not a decision we took likely, it’s come because of low water levels and a need to protect the environment and to ensure we do enough to ensure enough water for nature and wildlife.”

Any indication as to how long the restrictions may be in place for farmers?

“The restrictions are entirely weatherdependant. The forecast is for continuing dry weather and the same sort of rainfall levels that we experienced in 2003 and this is likely to extend into the beginning of October. All the indications from the Met Office are that we are to continue with a prolonged dry spell.”

How much of an impact did a relatively dry winter

in 2021 have on the situation we now face with these unprecedented low levels of water stocks?

“The dry winter is partly responsible for water stocks not being fully replenished; however, in eight out of the last 10 months we have had lower than average rainfall in the region resulting in lowest levels since 1940.

“Because of this we have been warning since April of a water scarcity situation.

“We have been issuing guidance weekly advising that this is becoming an urgent situation and for businesses to share water and do all they can to minimise their impact so we didn’t have to get to this point.”

In your experience how bad is the current situation we are now facing?

“It’s the first time we’ve got to the stage of suspending licences and it’s part of a shift in climate patterns which we’ve seen across Europe and in the UK. Since 2018 we have had dry periods in some parts of Scotland but the unprecedented level of the water shortage we are now facing is why we have made this decision to suspend licences.”

You’ve met with Scottish Government ministers earlier today to discuss

the seriousness of the situation we’re now facing, what has come out of that meeting?

“We are looking to see if there is anything we can do in particular to support soft fruit farmers and that is because they have a perennial crop and if they lose it they will be severely impacted over time.

“Fruit farmers tend to use much more efficient irrigation methods so we are not suspending their licences as yet, instead we are working closely with them to see if there is more we can do to support them in this oncoming dry patch. The impact of the dry spell is affecting Fife farmers more acutely. The situation for farmers in Angus and Tayside isn’t currently as severe.

“However if we don’t see sufficient rainfall in the coming months we farmers in these regions may become subject to similar water extraction restriction. We are about 16-20 days’ worth of water away from where we are today with respect to Fife.

“People tend to view Scotland as a wet country; however, climate change and long-term weather patterns are now highlighting the issue that we have to, as a society, become better at reducing water usage as well as finding ways to preserve the water we have.”