Water poverty in a ‘Hydro Nation’: Exploring distributional and recognitional water injustice in Scotland

Abstract

Scotland is celebrated as a ‘Hydro Nation’ with abundant water resources and some of the cheapest water in the UK. However, despite claims that the UK is meeting SDG 6.1 (universal access to safe, affordable drinking water), our analysis of twenty interviews with water and fuel poverty professionals found that many households across Scotland struggle to afford and access safe water. This situation was particularly evident for rural water users and BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities. We argue that the current definition of water poverty in the UK is inadequate and obscures the perpetuation of water injustice.