Hot on the heels of the hosepipe ban that came into effect in London last week, the capital city has just been officially declared in drought – along with half of the country. The Environmental Agency has declared official droughts in seven areas across England due to the extremely low rainfall and outrageously high temperatures that we’ve ben experiencing recently.
A dedicated drought briefing was held yesterday (July 28) between representatives from the National Drought Group and Water Minister Emma Hardy prior to the official drought declaration today. The affected areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex.
This is the third official drought in the past five years and the Environmental Agency has warned that this could have ‘long-lasting impacts’. Rivers are running low (with 78% of them now officially classified as below normal), farmers are having to harvest crops early, and millions of people across the country now have restrictions on their water use.
The Environmental Agency has confirmed that they have stepped up their operational response and will be enhancing their water monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwaters.
The winter rainfall (which now feels like a distant memory) helped replenish reservoirs, but we’re now nearing the end of one of the hottest and driest Julys on record, having seen just 7% of the expected rainfall, with no substantial downpours are currently in sight.
People are being urged to use a little less water where possible to ensure that current water reserves last until the country’s next period of sustained rainfall. Minor steps like turning off the taps whilst brushing your teeth, taking slightly shorter showers, or fixing leaking toilets really can make all the difference. Each and every drop we save is an extra one for nature!
Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environmental Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it. A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.”
Emma Hardy, Water Minister, said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal. We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.”
You can read the government’s full press release here.
