Scottish Water has unveiled a bold new strategy to protect and future-proof Scotland’s world-class water for the next 25 years.
In the face of more extreme weather and rising demand, the publicly owned utility has laid out a comprehensive plan to keep Scotland’s water clean, resilient and affordable for generations to come.
The plan, titled Our Sustainable Future Together, comes after the driest start to a year since 1964 and follows a wide-ranging consultation with customers and communities across the country.
At its heart are three clear goals: keeping Scotland’s tap water a source of national pride, improving the quality of rivers and seas while reducing sewer flooding, and supporting the country’s sustainable housing growth.
Scottish Water’s Chief Executive, Alex Plant, described the strategy as a vital response to the growing pressures facing the country’s water and wastewater systems.
“Extreme weather events are no longer occasional anomalies.
“They are becoming the new normal,” he said.
“Alongside longer dry spells, we are also seeing more intense rainfall and increased flood risk.
“This dual threat of too little and too much water puts enormous pressure on our infrastructure and demands urgent adaptation.”
The strategy identifies three areas of action to meet the challenge: working more closely with communities and partners, transforming internal operations to become more efficient, and helping customers reduce water use and manage rainwater where it falls.
That last point is critical.
Scots use more water per person than anywhere else in the UK, averaging 178 litres a day compared to 137 litres in England and Wales.
If nothing changes, Scottish Water estimates the country could face a daily shortfall of 240 million litres by 2050 during prolonged dry spells.
The east of Scotland, including Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, is expected to bear the brunt of this water stress, with over 1.6 million people living in these areas.
But there is also room for hope.
Just last week, communities across Scotland helped reduce water demand by 60 million litres in response to a call for support during dry weather.
It’s proof, Plant said, that collective action can make a real difference.
“Everyone in Scotland has a stake in Scottish Water.
“It belongs to all of us.
“And that means we all have a role to play in protecting and valuing our most essential natural resource.”
The full Our Sustainable Future Together strategy is now available on Scottish Water’s website.
