Water Situation Report th 10 September 2020 · 2020. 9. 10. · Water Situation Report th 10...
Transcript of Water Situation Report th 10 September 2020 · 2020. 9. 10. · Water Situation Report th 10...
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