WARNING OVER WATER USE AMID DRIEST SPELL FOR 60 YEARS

SCOTS have been urged to ditch hosepipes for watering cans and take shorter showers after the country experienced its driest start to the year since 1964.

- Ben Borland

Scottish Water said it is facing “challenges” in maintaining normal water supplies after weeks of dry, sunny weather, which is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, and a surge in usage.

Sources at the company insisted there was "no impending crisis" and no immediate threat of an outright hosepipe ban which would be the first in Scotland since 1995.

However, people living in a number of areas are already having normal water supplies supplemented by tankers.

They include Gullane and Aberlady in East Lothian; areas north of Aberdeen such as Potterton, Middleton Park, and Belhelvie; Maybole, Turnberry and Maidens in South Ayrshire; Kippen and Balfron in west Stirlingshire; and the Strathpeffer area in Ross-shire.

Scottish Water is also taking water from the Spey, pumping water from the river to maintain normal supplies in Moray.

It comes as the latest report from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) shows all of Scotland is now at some level of water scarcity.

Most of the east coast has now moved to "moderate scarcity" level, where businesses such as farmers, golf courses and whisky distilleries are told to "actively reduce water use".

The rest of the mainland is at "alert" and only the Inner and Outer Hebrides remain at "early warning".

Scotland has experienced the driest January to April since 1964, with only 59% of the long-term average rainfall over this period.

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