Why Water Scarcity Is Also an Energy Problem
Introduction
Scotland is famous for its rain-soaked landscapes and abundant lochs, so water scarcity might seem unlikely. Yet recent events tell a different story. After the driest start to the year since 1964, all of Scotland is now experiencing some level of water scarcity[1]. Environmental authorities have issued warnings as rivers reach historic low flows and groundwater levels plummet. This emerging scarcity isn’t just a water management issue – it’s also driving up energy demand. When water runs low, providing and using it becomes far more energy intensive. In other words, a water scarcity crisis is also an energy problem, with serious implications for Scotland’s environmental goals and infrastructure.
Water Scarcity in Scotland: A New Challenge
Spring 2025 brought record sunshine and warmth to Scotland, resulting in unprecedented low water levels in parts of the country. Groundwater in Fife and Angus hit its lowest April levels on record, and the River Dee’s flow in Aberdeenshire was the lowest observed so early in the year in over 97 years.
Climate change and weather extremes are causing “water stress” in Scotland’s temperate climate. Prolonged dry spells in 2022 and 2025 have led to lower river levels and thirsty soils. For example, in April 2025 groundwater measurements in parts of Fife and Angus hit their lowest levels in nearly three decades, and the River Dee was at a near-record low flow for spring[2]. By May 2025, every region of Scotland was under a water scarcity alert, with 34 areas on alert and 11 at moderate scarcity.
[1] All of Scotland has water scarcity after driest period in 60 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r1nk8g8l8o
Scottish Water – the national water utility – urged the public to conserve water “as efficiently as possible” in response to the situation[3]. This is truly new territory for a country long accustomed to plentiful rain.
To keep taps running during these dry conditions, extraordinary measures have been needed. Scottish Water has been pumping an extra 150 million litres of water per day into the network since mid-April 2025 – roughly the amount used by the entire Greater Glasgow area in a day. This emergency supply boost has drawn down reservoir levels (about 10% lower than normal for the season). In some communities, water is even being trucked in by tanker or supplemented from alternative sources. For instance, in Moray, borehole supplies are being “boosted by pumping water directly from the River Spey” to maintain normal service. These responses illustrate how a water shortage forces utilities to tap non-traditional or distant sources – whether pumping from rivers and lochs or hauling water by road. Crucially, all these solutions consume a lot of energy: pumps and trucks don’t run on magic. Below, we explore three keyways in which water scarcity drives up energy demand.
When Water Runs Low, Energy Use Runs High
Water and energy are tightly interconnected. In fact, simply abstracting, pumping, and treating water consumes significant energy and contributes to carbon emissions – about 11% of the carbon footprint of UK water use comes from supplying and treating water and wastewater[4]. In a water scarcity situation, this link becomes even more pronounced. Here are three reasons why scarce water means higher energy use:
Pumping from distant or backup sources: During shortages, water often must be brought in from farther afield or unusual sources. Normally, many Scottish water systems rely on gravity flow or nearby reservoirs. But when local supplies run dry, utilities turn to pumping water over long distances or from deep underground. Scottish Water’s drought contingency plans note that in severe shortages they will “supplement normal drinking water sources with temporary abstractions from different parts of the water environment” – for example, drawing from remote lochs, rivers, or emergency boreholes. Pumping millions of extra litres uphill or via long pipelines is extremely energy intensive. The recent need to pump directly from the River Spey and use tanker deliveries in parts of Scotland underscores this point. All that added pumping, and transport requires electricity or fuel, straining energy resources whenever water is scarce.
More energy-intensive water treatment: Scarcer water can mean poorer water quality and more treatment steps to make it safe to drink. When reservoir levels are low or alternative sources are used, the water often contains more sediments or organic material (for instance, warmer, stagnant water can lead to algal growth). Water treatment plants must work harder – using more chemicals, filtration, and pumping – to meet drinking standards. Even in normal times, treating and distributing drinking water is a heavy energy user. Scottish Water is one of the largest electricity consumers in the country, requiring about 442 GWh of electricity each year to pump and purify water (enough to power ~140,000 homes)[5]. During drought responses, treatment plants may need to run extra processes and pumps for longer, driving energy use even higher. In short, every extra litre of water supplied in a dry spell carries an embedded energy cost in treatment.
Increased irrigation by farmers: Agriculture feels the impact of water scarcity early, and farmers often respond by pumping water for crops when rain fails. Irrigation is the most water-intensive aspect of farming, especially in eastern Scotland where potato and vegetable fields rely on summer watering[6]. In dry conditions, farmers may pump water from rivers, lochs, or deep aquifers to save their crops – running electric or diesel pumps for hours. This not only adds to energy consumption, but it can exacerbate the water shortage if done unsustainably. Drought-driven irrigation needs can significantly boost on-farm energy use (and costs) as well as contribute to higher overall demand on the electric grid.
[5] https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/energy-and-sustainability/energy
Turning the Tide: Toward Integrated Solutions
Water scarcity and energy use clearly go hand in hand. This means that policymakers and industry must tackle water and energy challenges together, not in isolation. Fortunately, steps that conserve water often save energy too – a win-win for sustainability. For instance, improving leakage control and promoting water efficiency reduces the volume of water that must be pumped and treated, cutting power usage and carbon emissions at the same time[7].Public awareness campaigns in Scotland now emphasise that “it takes energy to purify water and pump it across 33,300 miles of pipes”, so saving water helps fight climate change as well as avoiding shortages. Consumer advocates are calling for integrated advice on water and energy savings for households, highlighting how using less water can lower utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions together. On the supply side, Scottish Water is investing in more efficient pumps and renewable energy to reduce the cost and carbon of delivering each litre of water. And in agriculture, strategies like drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and scheduling irrigation at cooler times can lessen both water withdrawals and energy usage.
The Case for Water-Energy Policy Integration
Scotland’s recent brush with drought is a wake-up call that even a “wet” country must plan for water scarcity in a changing climate. It also underlines that water and energy systems are deeply interlinked. When water is scarce, we burn more energy to access, treat, and distribute it; conversely, smarter water management can save energy. Going forward, an integrated approach is essential. Water scarcity should be treated as not just an environmental issue but also an energy and climate issue. Coordinated policies – from drought response plans to infrastructure investments – need to account for this water-energy nexus. By aligning water conservation efforts with energy efficiency and renewable power, Scotland can build resilience to dry times without derailing its net-zero carbon ambitions. In sum, solving water scarcity is about more than keeping the taps flowing; it’s about keeping the lights on and emissions down, too, through a holistic resource strategy backed by the latest data and an urgent, collaborative response. The sooner we recognise that connection, the better prepared we’ll be for the challenges ahead.