North Fife and East Neuk Remain Under Significant Water Scarcity

North Fife and the East Neuk continue to experience significant water scarcity following a prolonged period of below-average rainfall throughout the spring and summer.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has introduced temporary restrictions on licences allowing water to be abstracted from the environment in areas affected by significant scarcity. 

North Fife and the East Neuk are among several areas in eastern Scotland currently affected by low water levels. SEPA's Drought Risk Assessment Tool continues to monitor conditions across Scotland and is used to identify areas where water scarcity is developing.

The restrictions currently affect 136 licences across North Fife, the East Neuk, Stonehaven, and North Esk, primarily relating to agricultural irrigation and other operations. The restrictions also affect agricultural users. SEPA said the majority of abstraction licences subject to restrictions are associated with agricultural irrigation, although some licences relate to other activities.

SEPA published its latest assessment on 10 September. The report showed that North Fife and Fife (East Neuk) remained at significant water scarcity. The agency monitors the river flows, groundwater levels, rainfall, and soil moisture when assessing water scarcity across Scotland. 

Restrictions were first introduced across Fife in July after a period of prolonged dry conditions that resulted in low river flows, with the River Eden particularly affected. SEPA reports that the Kemback gauging station recorded its second-lowest flow in its 60-year record earlier this year. 

Although recent rainfall has improved conditions in some areas, it has not been sufficient to restore water levels to normal.

In a SEPA press release on 17 September, the SEPA Senior Leader in Compliance Eilidh Johnston said that recent rainfall had not reversed the effects of the prolonged dry period.

“Looking out of the window, it may feel as though Scotland has had plenty of rain,” Johnston said. “But our monitoring shows that showers passing through have not reversed the effects of the prolonged dry weather.”

SEPA said that sustained rainfall is required to replenish groundwater and restore river flows following an extended period of dry weather.

The effects of the scarcity period are particularly relevant for rural communities in North East Fife where some properties rely on private water supplies rather than the public water network. These supplies can include shallow wells, springs, and burns, which are more vulnerable to falling water levels during prolonged dry periods.

Fife Council has identified a concentration of properties using private water supplies in rural areas north of the A92. Private supplies are regulated differently from the public water network, and households can be responsible for maintaining their own source and treatment systems.

SEPA has advised people with private water supplies to report problems with their water supply to them and has encouraged all water users to prepare for the potential impacts of prolonged dry conditions.

The restrictions also affect agricultural users. SEPA said the majority of abstraction licences subject to restrictions are associated with agricultural irrigation, although some licences relate to other activities.

The agency has said that the restrictions are intended to reduce pressure on rivers and protect the environment while water levels remain low.

SEPA has advised water users to increase their resilience to prolonged dry conditions and to take steps to reduce the potential impact of water scarcity in the future.

The current restrictions will remain in place while conditions continue to meet SEPA's criteria for significant water scarcity.

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