Using Water

Water use in Scotland 

Water in Scotland is used for a wide range of different things, from our drinking water to cooling of Nuclear power stations. 

These uses can be split into three main types : 

• Industrial use 

• Agricultural use

• Domestic use

Industrial Water Use

Manufacturing and other industries use water during the production process for either creating their products or cooling equipment used in creating their products. 

Industrial water is also used for fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling, or transporting a product.

Water is also used by smelting facilities, petroleum refineries, and industries producing chemical products, food, and paper products. Large amounts of water are used mostly to produce food, paper, and chemicals. 

Effluents, i.e. liquid waste and domestic waste, are sometimes released into water systems. These substances can be hazardous to the environment, killing off aquatic organisms. 

The video below shows an example use of water in Industry:-

Note - This video was produced by the company Chevron, a major Oil and natural Gas producer. Do we feel that the video represents an unbiased view?  For more information on identifying reliable, unbiased sources, please see - Research Skills  

Industrial Water Use Case Study : Torness Nuclear Plant

As a coolant, cold water is piped around the machinery to cool it down and released back into the river or sea, raising the water temperature where it is released. 

This can allow species to invade Scottish waters from warmer countries whilst at the same time, killing off native species that need colder water to survive (such as the cold water corals on the west coast of Scotland).

At the Torness Nuclear Plant in East Lothian in 2011, both reactors had to undergo an emergency shut down after the coolant intakes (which draw water from the sea) became blocked by Jellyfish. This meant that the reactors could not be cooled properly and had to be shut down for safety until the Jellyfish could be cleared. 

Agricultural Water Use

To ensure that food crops have a good water supply, the fields are irrigated. This is when water is artificially applied to the crops or soil. 

This water is taken from rivers or from underground via boreholes or wells, which lowers the water levels present in the rivers and in underground supplies. 

This loss of river water can result in the death of organisms that need lots of water to survive, and in poorer, warmer countries could mean that the people no longer have a water supply.  

The video below shows an example use of water in Agriculture:-

Agricultural Water Use Case Study : The Aral Sea (Kazachstan & Uzbekistan) 

Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest freshwater lake in the world. But the Soviet Union’s agricultural policies in the 1950s led to water from two rivers – the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya – being diverted away from the sea to irrigate Central Asia’s desert steppes to boost cotton production.  

This led to a catastrophic loss of water feeding the sea, causing it to lose ~90% of its area : 

Domestic Water Use

In houses, water is used for washing, cooking, heating and sanitation. In warmer climates or in times of drought, governments may apply water use restrictions and limit the volume of water piped to houses. This can have serious impacts, including:-

• Public health – Lack of clean drinking water and sanitation can result in disease.

• Contamination of water supplies – When water levels are low, water pumps can cause saltwater to migrate inland contaminating freshwater supplies. If the water source is a freshwater lake or loch, then silt for the bottom can also contaminate the supply.

• Conservation – Dried up waterways and lack of water resources can kill organisms and reduce biodiversity.

• Damage to the tourist industry - Countries or organisations may be unable to offer water sports or sailing activities, and drought can put many tourists off a region due to lack of facilities to access clean drinking water. Water scarcity also can lower the appeal of natural beauty in certain areas, for example low water levels in Waterfalls, or reduced autumn colouring in trees. 

The video below shows an example use of water in Domestic settings:-

Domestic Water use : Water 'Hardness'

When water is cleaned and safe to send to homes, it is still not 'pure' water. Within the water, there will be many dissolved minerals, such as calcium or magnesium . It is these minerals that give water from different places their distinct taste :

These dissolved minerals in mains water over time can cause issues : 

'Water Hardness' also causes issues with forming a 'lather' (making bubbles with soap or washing up liquid). Instead of clear water and foam forming, in 'Hard water', the water turns cloudy and 'soap scum' forms : 

'Soap Scum' is a precipitate (a insoluble solid formed from a liquid solution). When the soap molecules come into contact with the calcium and magnesium in hard water, a chemical reaction occurs. This creates a new compound, such as calcium stearate or magnesium stearate. 

Unlike the original soap, these new compounds are insoluble in water, which means they leave a residue on any dishes, clothes or even hair washed in 'hard water'. 

Sustainable Water Use

Over the past 100 years, water consumption has steadily risen due to increased demand for water both in people’s homes as well as demand for water for agriculture and industry. Treating water to make it potable (safe to drink) requires a significant amount of energy and other resources and so people are being advised to reduce their water consumption where possible, to allow sustainable water management. This applies to 'Water-Rich' countries like Scotland too. 

Domestic changes that could be made to reduce water consumption include:-