BLOG: United by Water - Deirdre Michie, Chair, Scottish Water

“Water doesn’t recognise boundaries — not geographical ones, organisational ones, or political ones. And so our responses can’t either.”

Deirdre Michie
Chair, Scottish Water

Water is having a moment. While some of the headlines can be challenging we are also seeing a quieter, more profound shift in how we understand the role water plays in everything that matters to our future. Whether it’s climate resilience, economic growth, community wellbeing, or the health of our rivers and seas, water is no longer just something that comes out of a tap. It’s becoming one of the most critical lenses through which we must view the next chapter of Scotland’s story.

And that’s exactly why I’ve been thinking — and talking — a lot about water recently. In fact, this was the focus of a talk I gave earlier this month at the Institute of Water Scotland’s Winter Seminar in Glasgow, where leaders from across the sector gathered to mark the organisation’s 80th anniversary. The theme of the day, “United by Water,” couldn’t have been more timely.

Because if there’s one thing becoming abundantly clear, it’s this: water has the power to unite us — and it must.

From the reservoirs built by Victorian pioneers to the hydro schemes that powered our early industries, water has always played a central role in Scotland’s story. Today, Scottish Water continues that legacy as Scotland’s publicly owned, independently regulated and commercially run water company, serving millions of people every day and operating 24/7 to protect public health and the natural environment.

But the challenges facing us now are more complex than anything previous generations encountered. Scotland is already experiencing the effects of the climate emergency: heavier rainfall, more frequent flooding, record-breaking storms, and drier summers that are testing our resilience like never before. Ageing assets add a further layer of pressure, while biodiversity loss and pollution remind us that our environment can no longer absorb the strain of the way we’ve always done things.

Water doesn’t recognise boundaries — not geographical ones, organisational ones, or political ones. And so our responses can’t either.

Catchment partnerships are bringing farmers, land managers, and local authorities together to restore ecosystems from the Dee to the Tay and blue-green infrastructure is already transforming urban spaces in cities like Glasgow and Perth. Digital innovation — from AI to data modelling — is reshaping how we monitor assets, reduce carbon, and protect water quality.

These successes share something in common: they work because sectors, communities, and organisations are working together around shared outcomes.

At Scottish Water, we’re investing in the infrastructure, innovation and skills required for a resilient, low-carbon future. Our Long-Term Strategy, Our Sustainable Future Together, sets out how we’ll protect drinking water, improve rivers and seas, enhance flooding resilience, and support sustainable growth over the next 25 years.

We’re also investing in our people — building a diverse, future-ready workforce with the STEM skills needed for environmental stewardship. And looking ahead we’re proposing the steady, long-term investment required to replumb Scotland for the next generation.

Glasgow will host the International Water Association World Water Congress next summer — a huge opportunity for Scotland to showcase how a nation can lead through integrated, sustainable water stewardship. And it’s a chance for us to learn from global partners as we strengthen our own approach.

What became clear to me as I spoke at the IWA seminar was that the next chapter of Scotland’s water story depends on all of us. Engineers, farmers, planners, technologists, communities, developers, young people who are our next generation of water advocates — every one of us has a role in shaping a resilient, fair, and flourishing Scotland.

Because when we are truly United by Water, we’re protecting a precious resource and we are contributing to our nation’s future.