Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2013

Public Water Supplies - Water Abstracted and Supplied^1,2,3: 2002/03-2012/13

For sustainable management of water resources, it is essential to meet consumers' demands and standards, whilst maintaining aquatic ecosystem health. Abstraction of water has impacts on geology, habitats, wildlife, biodiversity and recreational use of water resources. This is being managed by Scottish Water and Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the Water Resource Planning and River Basin Management Planning Processes.

Between 2002/03 and 2009/10, estimated raw water abstractions by Scottish Water decreased by 13% to 2,165 Ml/d. Between 2010/11 and 2012/13, using improved data and methodology, the volume of raw water abstracted also decreased and was 1,922 Ml/d in 2012/13. Between 2002/03 and 2012/13, domestic water consumption increased by 7%, whilst non domestic consumption decreased by 19%.

Treated water produced has fallen by 55 Ml/d to a new low of 1,840 Ml/d. 78% of this reduction is due to a further reduction in leakage of 43 Ml/d to 618 Ml/d. Operational use has increased by 1 Ml/d over the past year to 50 Ml/d. Both household and non-household demand have decreased, accounting for the remaining 12 Ml/d decrease in DI.

The total volume of abstracted water has decreased by 99 Ml/d, and the resultant raw water losses have restored to a more consistent volume than reported in 2011/12. Having reduced leakage in recent years, and attaining the Economic Level of Leakage (ELL) in 2012/13, one year ahead of regulatory expectation, Scottish Water continues to manage leakage at the ELL. Reducing leakage has led to a similar reduction in the water abstracted and the treated water produced, resulting in a new low annualised average for water into supply of 1,840 Ml/d for 2012/13. This low has been driven mainly from the significant 45% reduction in leakage since 2006.

Source: Scottish Water / Metadata