The National Drought Group, comprised of senior decision-makers from the Environment Agency, the government, water companies, and important representative groups, met today (12 August) to discuss the response to the driest summer in fifty years and the ongoing action required.
Water Minister Steve Double was also present. The committee decided to continue working together across sectors to balance water requirements and preserve water after talking about the present forecast, risks, and repercussions related with it.
The Environment Agency said during the meeting that the threshold for triggering a drought has been reached, putting sections of the South West, Southern and Central England, and the East of England under a drought.
In eight of its 14 regions, the Environment Agency has certified that there is a drought:
- Devon and Cornwall
- Solent and South Downs
- Kent and South London
- Herts and North London
- East Anglia
- Thames
- Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
- East Midlands
The hydrological position (including rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and soil dryness) as well as the effects these conditions have on the public water supply, abstractors (including farmers), and the environment are used as triggers to confirm today’s change to Drought status for these areas. The Environment Agency makes this decision locally rather than nationally.
This classification shift from flood to drought highlights the effects that persistently dry weather is having on water supplies and the ecosystem.
Moving into a drought status does not immediately start measures, but it does indicate that the Environment Agency and water providers will scale up their efforts to manage the effects and go through with the phases of their pre-agreed drought plans.
These plans take into account local variables like reservoir levels, demand, and projections and result in preventative measures like temporary use bans. England’s most recent drought occurred in 2018.
Water sources that are essential are secure. Water firms are obligated to maintain these supplies, and they have promised regulators and the government that they will do so nationwide.
In order to safeguard vital supplies in the case of a dry autumn, Defra and the Environment Agency are pleading with water firms to keep up their cautious planning.
The general people and companies in drought-affected regions should use water sparingly and be extremely aware of the demands on water supplies.
While each person has a responsibility to responsibly control their use, the government also wants water corporations to decrease leakage, repair leaky pipes as soon as possible, and take other action in support of government policies.
Members of the National Drought Group decided today to:
Today, National Drought Group members agreed to:
- Recognise the new risks and impacts associated with the current outlook.
- Ensure water companies are following their Drought plans.
- Continue working collaboratively across sectors to manage current impacts – working together to balance water needs and conserve water.
Harvey Bradshaw, Environment Agency executive director for the environment and chair of the NDG, said:
The current high temperatures we are experiencing have exacerbated pressures on wildlife and our water environment.
EA staff are doing an excellent job responding to environmental impacts and working with water companies to make sure they are following their drought plans.
Today’s meeting has helped to build on our coordinated action to manage water supplies, consider water users and protect the environment. We urge everyone to manage the amount of water they are using in this exceptionally dry period.
Water Minister Steve Double said:
We are currently experiencing a second heatwave after what was the driest July on record for parts of the country. Action is already being taken by the Government and other partners including the Environment Agency to manage the impacts.
All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe, and we have made it clear it is their duty to maintain those supplies.
We are better prepared than ever before for periods of dry weather, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed.
The government, Environment Agency, water firms, environmental and angling organisations, and farmers are already taking action to control the effects. The EA’s ongoing activities consist of:
- Managing abstraction licences to balance the needs of water companies and our natural environment;
- Working with farmers, businesses and other abstractors to manage water availability and ensure they get the water they need to be resilient while maintaining our protection of the environment.
- Operating water transfer schemes between different areas of the country, to make sure water gets to the areas which are worst affected by prolonged dry weather;
- Planning with water companies and ensuring they have and are implementing their pre-agreed drought plans. Every water company in England has a published drought plan available on their website;
- Monitoring environmental conditions on key rivers to check temperature, dissolved oxygen levels and algae activity
- Activating EA waterways drought plans to carefully manage navigations
- Reoxygenating water and rescuing fish in distress where river flows are especially low;
- Supporting the Fire and Rescue Service to tackle waste fires and wildfires.
This week, the Environment Secretary also approved the EA’s request for a “drought order” from Defra, helping to save the Holme Styes reservoir in Holmfirth from drying up.
In order for the reservoir to sustain ecosystems and species in the River Ribble for a longer length of time, the Environment Agency may now request of Yorkshire Water to reduce the flow of water leaving the reservoir as needed.
The reservoir’s output will drop from 2 million to 1 million litres per day.
The Holme Styes Reservoir is a former mill reservoir and is not a component of the public water infrastructure, thus the order will have no effect on the public water supply.
This year’s prolonged dry weather has resulted in very low river flows and plummeting reservoir levels over most of England.
The aquatic environment and animals are still under added strain from high temperatures, particularly this week’s heatwave.
Today, the Environment Agency released its July national report on the water situation, which gives an overview of the rainfall, soil moisture deficit, river flows, groundwater levels, and reservoir levels during the previous month.
The research notes that July in England was the driest since 1935 when the East and South East’s records started, with monthly rainfall totals for the bulk of river catchments being categorised as extremely low for the time of year.
All geographical areas of England have seen five months in a row with below normal rainfall and above average temperatures.
In July, there was a decline in river flows, groundwater levels, and reservoir stock levels. T
he soil moisture deficit is equivalent to what was seen at the conclusion of the 1976 drought, and thirteen EA-monitored indicator rivers are at their lowest levels ever.
Over the next weeks, the National Drought Group will continue to collaborate closely.
On Tuesday, August 23, the Chief Executives of water companies will meet with the Group under the direction of Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.