Water restrictions across Scotland have been expanded to include key whisky-producing areas as rivers reach critically low levels following prolonged dry weather. The tough measures, imposed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), now affect eight major catchment areas, including the Lower Spey—a region renowned for its distilleries.
SEPA has escalated the Lower Spey and Berwickshire regions to “Significant Scarcity,” their highest alert level, which triggers immediate restrictions on the amount of water that can be diverted from natural sources. These emergency controls extend to farmers and Scotch whisky distilleries, directly impacting operations that depend on a reliable water supply from local rivers and reservoirs.
Persistent dry spells throughout 2025 have left the east of Scotland with rainfall deficits of around 40% below the long-term average, with similar shortfalls stretching back to June 2024 in some areas. This has resulted in rivers, soils, and groundwater falling to critically low levels, endangering both ecosystems and water-intensive industries.
Areas like Speyside – home to over half of Scotland’s malt distilleries – are facing particular challenges, as temporary closures or limited operations can have significant financial impacts. The industry is responding by collaborating with scientists and adopting innovative nature-based solutions for water retention and management, including small “leaky dams” to slow water runoff and boost local aquifer recharge.
SEPA has been communicating with water abstractors since spring, encouraging compliance with the new restrictions and highlighting the necessity of prompt action to protect the long-term health of Scotland’s rivers. While some areas received heavy showers recently, this rainfall has done little to alleviate the situation in the most affected regions, and restrictions are expected to remain until sustained wetter conditions return.
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David Harley, Head of Water and Planning for SEPA, said: “With two more areas moving to Significant Scarcity there are now eight catchments across Scotland at the highest level. The science is clear; months of below average rainfall have left rivers at critically low flows. Restrictions are not optional – they’re essential to safeguard our environment.
“We have been warning about the risk of water scarcity since the Spring, and communicating with abstractors for several months now, so it’s not surprising that we’ve had to issue further restrictions. We know this is a challenging time, but we’re encouraged by the good levels of compliance we’re seeing on the ground. People realise that taking action now is vital to protect Scotland’s rivers and support their recovery when wetter conditions return.”
The Scotch whisky industry, represented by organisations such as the Scotch Whisky Association, has set ambitious water-efficiency targets and continues to refine water stewardship across the sector. Nevertheless, climate change and recurring droughts underline the urgent need for further collaboration and innovation to secure the “water of life” on which both Scotland’s rivers and its world-famous whisky industry depend.
