Cumbria is one of only two areas of the UK not in drought.
While extreme heat battered the county last month, Cumbria, alongside Lancashire, have normal water resource status, meaning there is no threat to water supplies, the Environment Agency revealed.
Across the country, there has been an increased demand for water and significant environmental impacts, with rivers and ponds drying out and fish and other wildlife dying or in distress.
Despite the growing demand for water, the agency said restrictions would not be put in place in Cumbria.
A spokesperson from The Environment Agency added: “Cumbria is not in prolonged dry weather or drought, therefore, we are not expecting restrictions.
“However, areas including Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and parts of Lancashire have seen less rainfall over recent months with Cumbria experiencing usual levels of rain for the time of year.
“The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely and we are ready to respond if the situation changes. We are liaising with water companies to ensure their dry weather plans are up-to-date and they are following the actions in their plans such as protecting water supplies should the dry weather continue.
“Our officers are assessing impacts of the drier weather on the environment, but if people see any environmental impacts due to dry weather, such as fish in distress or algal blooms, please report it to our incident line.”
Areas of the UK now in drought include Devon & Cornwall/Isles of Scilly; Solent and South Downs; Thames; Hertfordshire and North London; Kent and South London; East Anglia; Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire; East Midlands, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
Other areas including Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire; Wessex and the North East are classed as being in ‘prolonged dry weather.’
The hot dry weather in Southern England has led to exceptionally low river flows and low groundwater levels and a decline in reservoir levels with some well below average for the time of year.
On the topic of the extreme heat in Cumbria, the spokesperson added: “The Environment Agency has seen evidence of dry weather incidents with algal blooms, fish in distress and wildfires across the North West.”
To contact the incident line, call 0800 80 70 60.
