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Catchment Management

Water Scarcity in Scotland: Future Impact for Distilleries and Agriculture

A recent CREW project led by The James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College, the University of Aberdeen, and the British Geological Survey, highlighted a pressing issue for Scotland: the increasing likelihood and duration of water scarcity events due to climate change. This project, focused on the impact of these changes on three critical sectors—crop production, livestock farming, and distilleries.

The benefits beavers may bring to Scottish rivers, streams and water resources

Beavers are well known for their ability to transform the environment through dam building and other activities. This CREW report, based on evidence from 120 studies of beaver populations worldwide, provides an evidence review of the role of beavers in modifying physical processes, and the potential benefits they may bring for Scottish rivers, streams and water resources. Beavers could make important contributions to improving the condition of Scotland’s rivers, helping to improve water supply and quality as well as creating habitat, sequestering carbon and restoring rivers.

IMPRESS: Approaches to IMProve flood and drought forecasting and warning in catchments influenced by REServoirS

Approaches to IMProve flood and drought forecasting and warning in catchments influenced by REServoirS (IMPRESS) Report Front Cover Cover photographs courtesy of: Mike Cranston (Scottish Environment Protection Agency). All taken at the Castlehill Reservoir on the River Devon.

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IMPRESS investigated improved methods for forecasting of floods and droughts where these are influenced by reservoir operations. A strong capability to forecast sub-hourly river flows a week ahead for flood warning/guidance purposes has been developed by SEPA, using hydrological and hydraulic models of rivers in combination with weather model predictions of precipitation. However, the effect of reservoir operation is not well represented and this can impact adversely on the quality of flow forecasts at locations downstream of reservoirs.

A review of the risks to water resources in Scotland in response to climate change

Risks to water resources in Scotland in response to climate change; Cover photographs: Photographs courtesy of Dr Christopher J. White and Dr Douglas Bertram.

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There is “irrefutable evidence” that the global climate is changing due to human activities. Even in ‘water rich’ countries like Scotland, these changes will have implications for the future of water resources. In Scotland, changes in rainfall patterns (spatially, temporally, and seasonally), together with the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events including flood and drought, would result in significant challenges for Scotland’s key industries including the water sector. Such changes will impact drinking water supply, energy, agriculture, economic activity, and supply chains.

Environmentally informed pharmaceutical prescribing in Scotland

Front cover image showing medicine - Different Medicines, Patient Education, and Green Pharmaceuticals (www.canva.com)

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The prescription of pharmaceuticals is the most commonly used healthcare intervention and indisputably has an important role to play in human health. However, pharmaceuticals can have negative effects on the environment and living organisms. Firstly, pharmaceutical use significantly contributes to the healthcare sector’s carbon emissions. Secondly, pharmaceutical residues from human excretions and improper disposal of unused medicines can enter the water environment through wastewater and endanger aquatic life.

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