The Future of Scottish Water Resources: Tackling Water Scarcity

August 20, 2024

Effective water management is critical for the Scottish distilling industry, particularly as climate change intensifies water scarcity challenges. A recent British Geological Survey and CREW report highlights the potential for more frequent droughts and the increasing vulnerability of water sources.


Our expert team of hydrogeologists and water management specialists have been working with the distilling and allied industries for over a decade to support the sustainable use of water resources. No one more so than Dr Phil Ham, our managing director and Hydrogeologist. We asked Phil how the issues addressed in the report align with our experience working in this industry.


Phil, can you give us a snapshot of the challenges that face the industry?


Distillers used to be able to take water resources for granted but that's no longer the case. Maintaining current production levels has become a routine challenge, let alone finding additional resources to support expansion prospects.

In only the last few years, we have observed an increasing number of distilleries having to pause production on more than one occasion, altering the industry's approach to water management and creating a desperate need to increase the resilience of their water supply assets.


How can the industry increase water resilience?


It starts with a sound understanding of current water assets and the hydrological and hydrogeological systems that support them. Many distilleries across the five whisky regions in Scotland are reliant on surface and very shallow groundwater supplies. Where boreholes exist they are often low-yielding. Catchment areas for these types of sources are often poorly defined and the sources need to be properly understood to define effective solutions.


These might initially focus on 'hard engineering', such as increased storage capacity to provide a greater buffer during dry weather or improvements to aging infrastructure to minimise losses, but should also consider nature-based approaches to improve land management within catchments. There may be opportunities to leverage technology. For example, optimising the performance of abstraction systems has the potential to reduce environmental impacts whilst at the same time decreasing energy consumption and reducing operational costs.


Sounds complex, how is this achievable?


Solutions must not be considered in isolation but as part of a wider sustainability roadmap. Ultimately, the industry must adapt current water management practices and engage in long-term planning. It's not dissimilar to making whisky - you've got to take a long term view and make decisions now that you will only truly benefit from in many years to come.


At the same time, environmental policies must become more flexible and less adversarial to encourage collaborative approaches to water resource management. The industry has an active role to play in working with Government agencies to ensure policies are developed that balance the needs of the industry and the environment.


Sounds like there's a lot to consider! Where is the best place to start?


Whilst climate resilience strategies will be unique to each distillery, the industry has a number of shared water challenges that are well represented in the CREW reported and align with Envireau Waters' experiences.


That's why we have created an Envireau Knowledge pop-up event: From Source to Spirit: A Distillers Masterclass to a Climate Resilient Water Supply. This one-day event is designed to deliver what you need to know about understanding and maximising your water supply and, importantly, to start developing practical, innovative and sustainable abstraction solutions.


Our impressive line-up of speakers includes industry representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association, William Grant, Diageo, Chivas Brothers, and more.


Don't miss out on this tailor-made event. Discover the full details, including our event programme, here, and ensure the long-term sustainability of your distillery.


Event Details:


- Date: Tuesday, 24th September 2024

- Time: 9:00 to 17:00

- Location: The Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Keith, AB55 4DH

- Delegate Package: £120 + VAT

- Booking: envireauwater.co.uk


Register and download the conference programme to secure your distillery's future, explore the event itinerary and speaker profiles.



About Envireau Water 


At Envireau Water, we are a team of expert water scientists and engineers, who provide guidance on the management and regulation of natural water systems across the UK. By working collaboratively with our clients and the regulators, we deliver robust sustainable solutions that meet the requirements of all stakeholders. With an incredibly loyal client base and our ability to work seamlessly throughout the four nations of the UK, many of our clients know us individually and trust us to find resolutions to their water problems for years to come. 


Connect with us on LinkedIn to hear the latest industry developments and updates regarding our team. 


Envireau Water is an RSK Group Company. 

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