The document discusses Scotland's vision to be a Hydro Nation by regarding water as part of its identity and recognizing sustainable water management is crucial to its future success. It notes increasing global water scarcity and demand. Key priorities include establishing an expert Hydro Nation Forum, developing a water innovation park, passing the Water Resources Bill, and ensuring stable water charges and infrastructure maintenance while allowing for economic growth. The vision is for Scotland to become a global leader in water technology, governance, and management.

1. Jon Rathjen
Team Leader
Water Industry Team
Scottish Government

2. Farewell
Devlin Photos

3. Hello

4. Hydro Nation - Global Context
The world is waking up to the critical importance of water and
to its scarcity in some locations. One in eight of the world’s
population do not have access to clean water and 2.5 billion
live without basic sanitation.
Climate change and population pressures will lead to an
estimated 30 per cent increase in demand for fresh water, in
just 20 years, as the world’s food demand grows even more
quickly, water availability becomes even more critical.

5. Vision
Our vision for Scotland as a Hydro
Nation is to be a country that regards
water as part of its national and
international identity, recognises that the
sustainable management of its water
resource is crucial to its future success
and a key component of a growing low
carbon economy with flourishing
international trade.

6. Global responsibility

7. Economic Opportunity
• We need to bring together the academic,
utility, business and community sectors
to work closely together. A technology
innovation park that could help provide
the proof of concept capacity to support
our innovative business sector.
• Feasibility Study nearing completion
• Market opportunity and capacity work

8. Hydro Nation Forum
• An expert group, The Hydro Nation
Forum, drawn from the water industry and
other informed and interested parties, will
help shape the delivery of the Hydro
Nation programme.

9. Centre of Expertise
• We will partner with Scotland’s academic
sector to develop further a centre of
expertise in water issues and work to
develop global recognition of Scotland as
an academic centre of expertise in key
water governance areas.

10. Water Resources (Scotland) Bill
• Water Resources (Scotland) Bill –
Introduced to Parliament – evidence for
stage 1 being gathered
• Hydro Nation Duty on Ministers
• New emphasis for Scottish Water
• Water shortage management and other
improvements to water resource
management.

11. Duty of the Scottish Ministers
The Scottish Ministers must take such
reasonable steps as they consider
appropriate for the purpose of
ensuring the development of the value
of Scotland’s water resources.

12. Priorities for 2015 onwards
• Stable Charges and better service
• Maintaining existing assets
• Protecting public health
• Climate change & environment
• Increasing capacity to accommodate
economic growth
• Reduce water demand and catchment
management to reduce pollutants

13. Changing World
• The Hydro Nation agenda includes water
efficiency and good stewardship
• Is there room for community action on
water resources?
• Innovation – governance and techniques
as well as little black boxes.
• Energy – renewable emphasis
• Conservation
• Local management

14. Scotland The Hydro Nation
• Scotland is determined to respond to the
global challenges and capitalise on the clear
economic opportunity.
• Scotland has a unique contribution to make in
areas such as water technology, governance,
management and regulation.
• Scotland has the communications capacity and
global reach to project key messages on water
issues and build our reputation as a Hydro
Nation.