Water chiefs brace for drought in England to last into next year
Rain in autumn and winter could wash away drought fears, but planning is under way in case coming months stay dry.
Tuesday 23 August 2022 17:50, UK
Water officials are planning for England's drought to last well into next year, the Environment Agency has confirmed.
The National Drought Group of water companies, the Environment Agency (EA) and other land and water users met on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing drought now plaguing 10 of the EA's 14 English regions.
The West Midlands on Tuesday moved into drought status, leaving three regions in a state of "prolonged dry weather" and only the Cumbria and Lancashire area with normal water resources.
Although rain in the coming months could wash away the drought, the group is preparing for water shortfalls next year in case autumn and winter are dry.
EA chief executive Sir James Bevan said the driest summer for 50 years should be a "wake-up call for how the nation prepares for weather extremes and how we make the very best use of our water resources".
If conditions deteriorate, the Environment Agency will run an exercise in December to test plans, though it did not specify what be involved.
As the climate changes, a "complete gear change is needed" for how everyone, from water companies to farmers to households, uses and values water is needed, added Sir James.
Recent rainfall scattered across parts of the country has not been enough to replenish rivers, groundwater or reservoirs to normal levels, which need at least average or above average rain over the next few months.
The Met Office's Will Lang, said although autumn would bring more rain this year as usual, "overall rainfall amounts may still remain below normal for the time of year across parts of the South".
"We're not worried at the moment," said Steve Plumb, asset strategy and capital delivery director at Affinity Water, which has not yet imposed a hosepipe ban.
But it is important that the groundwater recharges during a wet winter, he told Sky News.
"Otherwise, as we go into next year, we could be needing to follow other water companies in the introduction of temporary use bans."
Read more: Hosepipe bans: What are the rules?
Six water companies - Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, South West Water and Welsh Water - have so far implemented or announced hosepipe bans.
But the firms have faced criticism for high rates of water leaking from the network, large profits and executive pay, and for releasing sewage into rivers and the sea during recently heavy rainfall.
Climate change is concentrating rainfall into short bursts over fewer days, that is harder to retain. It is also fuelling hotter weather, which evaporates more water and increases demand.
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