A dry spring and early summer have already withered rivers and reservoirs and pushed parts of eastern Scotland to Alert level. If the situation worsens, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) National Water Scarcity Plan may have to be put into action.
That could at some point mean restricting water use. But we are a long way from that at the moment.
The plan sets out how water resources will be managed prior to and during periods of prolonged dry weather. It ensures the correct balance is struck between protecting the environment and providing water resources for the population.
