'Early warning' issued for part of Highlands over water supplies after drier than normal spring
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A DRIER than normal spring has sparked an 'early warning' for water scarcity in some parts of the Highlands.
Although many parts of the UK have been much wetter than normal in recent weeks and months, the north-west Highlands has been drier than its average.
And, in its latest update on water levels for the spring, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued an early warning for some river catchments in north-west Sutherland south into parts of Wester Ross and east across much of Ross-shire and out towards Tain. The Black Isle is also covered by the notice.
In a report, issued this week, it added that a number of waterways in the north-west had also recorded river flows in the past 30 days that had been very low or extremely low.
Mid and Easter Ross has also experienced experienced a "quite dry" soil moisture deficit in the past week – whereas the week before all regions of the Highlands were at "normal".
Elsewhere, Skye, the Small Isles and the area immediately around Fort William are also subject to an "early warning" notice.
Sepa did, however, also stress that these are just "early warning" alerts and that rain is forecast and good groundwater levels are being recorded in much of Scotland.
But it also urged water users to plan ahead and stay vigilant about the potential for water scarcity this summer.
A spokesman for Sepa said: "Low recent rainfall has led to quite dry ground conditions and very low river flows in some areas of western, central and northern Scotland. Although 'normal conditions' remain in place across most of the country, an 'early warning' of water scarcity is now in place in some affected areas.
"However, rainfall is widely forecast across Scotland at the weekend. Groundwater levels across monitoring locations are generally normal, although in some parts of Fife and Angus are low for the time of year.
"Sepa is monitoring the situation and coordinating steps to manage water resources in line with Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan which is available on Sepa’s website at www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/water-scarcity/.
"You can help us by reporting any evidence you see of water scarcity.
"We advise water users, including those with private water supplies, to be aware of the potential risk of water scarcity this summer, and for businesses to plan ahead where possible. Water scarcity – plan ahead and use water wisely."
