Water challenges in coastal communities, Knoydart case study
Living in remote coastal areas is often associated with narratives around a desire to be self-sufficient and ‘go off-grid’. However, living in such areas also entails a range of physical, social, and economic challenges. In the case of Knoydart on the western coast of Scotland, this includes not being connected to either water, road, or electricity networks. This case study explores how people in Knoydart respond to water-related issues, including accessing reliable supplies of drinking water, generating power via a community run hydro-electricity scheme, and managing risks from flooding. The case study finds evidence of community success in coping with and adapting to issues to date, but potential vulnerabilities to possible future reductions in water supply. In addition, the informal mechanisms which remote communities develop to manage water issues in the absence of significant government support could also be strained by the growing challenges.