People across the country have been urged to use water wisely as prolonged dry weather continues to affect the UK.
Today, the Environment Agency (EA) convened the National Drought Group, to discuss the current situation and agreed actions to protect water supplies and the environment in the UK in the coming weeks.
The group is made up of senior decision makers from the agency, government, water companies, Water UK, the NFU and environmental protection groups including the Angling Trust and Rivers Trust.
If the dry weather continues and rainfall remains sporadic, temporary use bans, or hosepipe bans, will be determined by individual water companies and drought permits and drought orders will be made by the Environment Agency and Defra respectively.
Harvey Bradshaw, Environment Agency executive director for the environment and chair of the NDG, said: “While last week’s extreme high temperatures are now behind us and there are currently no plans for restrictions on essential water use, we can all do our bit by reducing unnecessary water consumption and following advice from our water company to ensure this remains the case whilst our rivers are exceptionally low.
“We are working very closely with water companies, farmers and other water users to manage the current situation. Today’s meeting was an important step in agreeing joint actions to protect our water resources with further dry weather forecasted for August, including ever-closer working to monitor and manage water supplies and the environment.”
Most of England has moved into ‘Prolonged Dry Weather’ status – meaning the EA is now taking precautionary actions to mitigate impacts as hydrological conditions deteriorate
They are also enhancing the monitoring and protection of water resources, alongside the water companies.
Nowhere in England is currently considered to be ‘in drought’ and most water companies are maintaining good reservoir storage for summer demand.
Stuart Colville, Water UK Director of Policy, said: “Water companies have detailed plans in place to manage water resources for customers and the environment, and are doing everything they can, including working closely with government and regulators, to minimise the need for any restrictions and ensure rivers continue to flow.
“As we continue to see extremely high demand, we are urging everyone to carefully consider the amount they are using given the unprecedented conditions. The water industry is running a national water saving campaign called Water’s Worth Saving that provides the public with helpful hints and tips on how to do their bit with water use in the home and garden.”
With the Met Office forecasting potentially several more dry weeks ahead, the EA and water companies are now enacting the early stages of their well-rehearsed and publicly available drought plans and calling on everyone to do their bit in managing water use.
This will become even more vital in the future as the UK continues to adapt to a changing climate.
Projections show that, by 2050, some rivers could have between 50 and 80 percent less water during the summer and summer temperatures are set to be up to 7.4 degrees hotter.
