Water must be treated as a “precious commodity”, climate experts have warned as fears grow of regular droughts in Scotland.
Hosepipe bans will become the norm, industries including whisky and farming will suffer and water metering for all households is on the cards as the effects of global warming hit home. The warnings came as a satellite image showed how dry conditions have left the east side parched while watchdogs imposed the first water ban caused by this summer’s drought.
Environment body SEPA insisted the emergency measures were forced on them by some of the driest conditions in 80 years in the east of once soggy Scotland. Professor Lindsay Beevers, of Edinburgh University, said Scots should prepare for major restrictions in the years to come.
