Water Situation Report 10th September 2020

HEADLINES

The Deveron catchment is now at Alert.

Conditions in the north are broadly similar to last week with the Naver,

Helsmdale, Moray and north-east staying at Moderate Scarcity. The rest of

northern and north-east Scotland remains at Alert or Early Warning.

Situation summary

The Deveron catchment is now at Alert due to dry

ground conditions and a long-term rainfall deficit.

Parts of the north-east remain at Moderate Scarcity

due to insufficient recovery in the area. Groundwater

levels have not shown any recovery following the

recent rainfall, and remain extremely low.

The Helmsdale, Moray and Naver catchments remain

at Moderate Scarcity, due to prolonged periods of low

river levels.

Dry ground conditions and low river levels remain

widespread across the north of Scotland. Storage in

many lochs has also fallen to very low levels.

Although rain is forecast for the coming weekend,

areas designated at Alert and Early Warning retain

their designations for now.

SEPA is monitoring the situation closely and

coordinating steps to manage water resources in line

with Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan.

There are a number of mine water discharges from

former coal mine workings across Scotland. When

mine water flows into a river, the iron in the water

settles on the bed of the river, causing orange

staining. In some eastern areas, at times of low river flow there is less dilution and this

discolouration is more visible in impacted rivers. SEPA works with other partners to reduce these

mining issues.

Advice for water users

Public water supplies are operating normally.

There is increasing risk to private water supplies. If you are impacted you can find advice at the

following link: https://www.mygov.scot/housing-local-services/water-supplies-sewerage/private-

water-supplies/.

For the most up to date advice please see: Advice for abstractors.

Water abstractors with concerns about meeting licence conditions or wishing to discuss contingency

measures should contact SEPA at the following e-mail address Water Scarcity mailbox.

Rainfall forecast – 09/09/20

A band of rain will move southeast across Scotland on Friday with some heavy outbreaks for a

time. This will be followed by some showers on Friday and Saturday before another Atlantic frontal

system moves in from the west on Saturday night and is likely to give periods of persistent rainfall

on Saturday night and some of Sunday.

The latest long-term forecast suggests that for September-October-November as a whole, above-

average precipitation is slightly more likely than below-average precipitation. Above-average

temperatures are also more likely over this period. For further details on the seasonal forecast see

the latest 3-month outlook summaries at

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/services/government/contingency-planners/index.

Further details on the current situation are provided in the following figures:

9th September 2020

Groundwater levels are showing

signs of recovery across most of the

country. However, groundwater

levels in the north and north-east are

still very low and falling.

We have up to date data for 14

groundwater monitoring sites, spread

across the east and south-west of the

country giving a good picture of the

current situation. Levels from a

selection of representative sites are

shown in the charts below.

Surface water storage loch levels are

also currently low across the north of

Scotland. Sites in the south are

mostly in the normal range for this

time of year.

The following charts show the trend in groundwater level

(GWL) since winter 2019/20 at selected monitoring sites

(see map above). Groundwater level is shown by the black

line. The coloured zones represent the normal range and

pattern of groundwater level, based on average monthly

levels from the long-term record.

Very high groundwater level

High groundwater level

Normal groundwater level range

Low groundwater level

Very low groundwater level

Natural water storage situation

In each river catchment there is some degree of water storage, which can maintain river flows

even when it is not raining. This natural water storage is mainly held in lochs and groundwater.

When natural storage has been depleted it will take a lot of rainfall for levels to recover.

Please note that the map below does not reflect conditions in managed water supply reservoirs.

• Murton

• Drumine

• Newbridge

• Redmoss

• Scotlandwell

• Deerdykes

• Annan

21

22

23

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Drumine (data record from 2009)

100

101

102

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Redmoss (data record from 2008)

50

51

51

52

52

53

53

54

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Deerdykes Deep (data record from 2008)

70

71

72

73

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Murton (data record from 2008)

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Scotlandwell (data record from 1998)

8

9

10

11

12

13

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Newbridge (data record from 1993)

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

12/19 02/20 04/20 06/20 08/20 10/20 12/20

GW

L m

AO

D

Annan (data record from 1993)

Current loch level Current groundwater level