The River Earn is one of 11 Scottish waterways with an “increased risk” of water scarcity according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The Perthshire watercourse is now at ‘Alert’ level due to the soaring temperatures, along with the Clyde, Helmsdale and Spey catchments.
It marks an increased level of warning from the week prior which saw the local area at the ‘Early Warning’ phase, which the rest of the region still sits at.
The Dee, Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne catchment areas have been raised to ‘Moderate Scarcity’.
It comes after SEPA warned last week conditions were unlikely to improve as dry weather continues, leading to low river and groundwater levels.
SEPA is monitoring the situation closely and is coordinating steps to manage water resources in line with Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan.
The information was revealed in the environmental regulator’s latest water scarcity situation report last week.
Abstractors in Alert areas are being asked to “plan ahead” and “work with neighbouring water users” to schedule abstractions where possible.
If the river, which starts at Loch Earn at St Fillans and runs east through Strathearn joining the River Tay near Abernethy, rises to ‘Moderate Scarcity’ or the final ‘Significant Scarcity’ then SEPA will consider whether restrictions will be required to protect the water environment.
Head of water and planning at SEPA, Nathan Crichlow-Watton said: “The situation continues to deteriorate in the east of the country, with most areas now in Alert or Moderate Scarcity level.
“We’re also now seeing conditions worsen in the south west and businesses that rely on water in this part of the country should also be thinking about how to be more efficient.
“Water scarcity is a very real threat as a result of climate change, and one which affects multiple industries across Scotland including agriculture, whisky production, golf and hydropower.
“We continue to support businesses across sectors to plan for and manage these conditions now and in the future. However, where businesses deliberately fail to follow abstraction licenses set out by SEPA, we will take appropriate enforcement action to protect the environment.”
For more information on water scarcity, as well as the latest report, go to www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity
