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3.3 Abstraction and flow regulation
Many manufacturing processes such as distilling, food processing, and paper and pulp production need to abstract water to produce goods. Water flow is also regulated and abstracted to supply drinking water, to produce hydropower and for navigational purposes. These types of activities may impact on the water environment. The Directive recognises that the benefits of such uses need to be retained and allows water bodies to be designated as heavily modified water bodies (HMWB) where substantial physical alterations have been made to support these uses.
Compared to many other European countries Scotland generally has sufficient supplies of water but the demand on our water supplies continues to increase. This context has meant that pressures arising from abstraction and flow regulation have not been comprehensively regulated in Scotland before now. As a result, limited quantitative information is available and the risk assessment has relied to a large extent on predicted impacts arising from water abstraction or flow regulation.
Figure 7 and Table 10 below show the distribution of pressures caused by abstraction and flow regulation for all water bodies at risk.
Figure 7 Abstraction and flow risk sectors 
Table 10 Abstraction and flow risk sectors
| Main Industrial Groups |
Abstraction |
Number of Pressures Flow Regulation |
Total |
| Energy and Water |
363 |
397 |
760 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
71 |
30 |
101 |
| Not identified |
0 |
80 |
80 |
| Manufacturing |
42 |
2 |
44 |
| Other |
18 |
11 |
29 |
| Transport and communications |
6 |
19 |
25 |
| Mining and quarrying |
9 |
0 |
9 |
| Sewage and refuse disposal |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Total |
509 |
540 |
1049 |
The following table illustrates (where data are available) three measures for each of these sectors. GVA 2001 (Gross Value Added) is a measure of the value of the sector to the economy; value of use is presented in pence per cubic metre and volume of use in cubic metres per year
Table 11 Contribution to the Scottish economy and value/volume of water use in sectors connected with abstraction and flow regulation
| Abstraction & Flow Regulation Sector |
GVA 200131 |
Sub-sector |
Value of use32 p/m3* |
Volume of use33 Million m3/year |
Agriculture, forestry
and fishing |
£827m |
Agriculture |
23-138 irrigation benefits |
56.5 |
| Fishing £207m @ Scottish ports £260m |
Aquaculture |
only 0.011 to 0.126 |
1,582 |
| Manufacturing |
Food & Drink £2,271m |
Food processing including whisky and soft drinks |
12.5 food
21 beverage |
260 |
| £516m |
Textiles |
4 |
1.8 |
| PP&P £1339m |
Paper & pulp |
16 |
87.7 |
| Energy and water supply |
Coke/ refining/ nuclear £143m |
Oil |
15 refined petroleum and coal |
15 |
| Elec, Gas Water Supply £2,021m |
Electricity hydro |
0.00 to 0.8234 |
Est total thro’put 23,755 |
| Elec, Gas Water Supply £2,021m |
Electricity non-hydro |
n/a |
(Est storage 3,355)
Mains 6
Fresh 5
Sea 3,772
Total 3,783 |
| t/o £958.3 million 2003/04 |
Water supply+ |
n/a |
876 |
From this table it is clear that the volumes are considerable and that as a consequence of this, the value per cubic metre is low. Given the differing assessment methodologies adopted (as a result of data limitations) it is not meaningful to calculate a sector ‘total’ value of water use figure.
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