Water shortages could become more serious and frequent due to climate change, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned and reported by the BBC. The environment watchdog says drier summers in Scotland could seriously affect water supplies.

The warning comes after record breaking temperatures earlier in the week. Scotland’s east coast is facing the worst consequences, with regular below average rainfall across several regions.

Sepa has issued several water scarcity warnings across the country. Most of the east coast is now classed by Sepa as being at “alert” or “moderate scarcity” level. The Don catchment has also been raised to moderate scarcity. The Dee, Ythan, the Firth of Tay, Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne catchments remain at moderate scarcity. The Leven in Dumbartonshire has been raised to an “early warning”, joining Galloway and Ayrshire. 

July 2022 has been the driest July in England since 1911, the Met Office has said.  Conditions have been particularly dry in the south-east of England with the west, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing lower temperatures and more rainfall. 

A hosepipe ban will begin on the Isle of Man following a period of extremely dry weather. The restrictions will come into force at midnight on Friday, Manx Utilities confirmed. It comes after an unusually dry spring, which was followed by a 50% drop in the average rainfall in June. A spokeswoman for the company said that despite a campaign to use water wisely there had been an increase in usage in recent weeks. The full story can be read here.