More anti-drought action needed
Even after the drought order made yesterday, the first in over a decade, the Environment Agency is concerned that the water shortage message "is not sinking in" with other water authorities.
Water supplies and the environment in the south east of England are still at serious risk because of the drought and not enough action is being taken by some water companies, people and businesses to save water, the agency said.
Releasing the Drought Prospects Report - Spring Update, the Environment Agency again warned that with a hot dry summer, and possibly the most serious drought in the past 100 years, there is a real risk of standpipes being introduced in parts of south east England later this year.
"This is not just a problem for water companies - people and businesses must take this warning seriously and act to save more water," said David King, EA’s director of water management.
Despite some reservoirs being close to full, more than 70% of the public water supply in the south east comes from groundwater - where in some areas, levels are the lowest on record. Over the last 18 months rainfall has been much lower than during the 1974-76 drought, and has been very similar to the serious drought of 1932-34.
"But we're concerned the message may not be sinking in. Even if we're aware of the seriousness of this drought we can all be doing more to minimise the impact of water shortages on people, the economy, and the environment," said Dr King.
In its report, the Environment Agency calls on:
Thames Water to step up action to reduce demand for water. London's water supply remains at risk this summer and Thames Water should apply for a drought order immediately to restrict water use for non-essential activities, as any further delay will increase the risk of standpipes later in the year. Essex and Suffolk Water to introduce a hosepipe ban by the end of May to reduce the risk of supply problems later in the year.
Without restrictions in place, reservoir levels could drop very quickly. All water companies in the south east to work hard to manage drought this year by providing clear information on how people and businesses can save water, applying for non-essential use bans to restrict some uses of water, and putting more effort into finding and fixing leaks.
The recommendations follow a report in February where the Environment Agency called on all water companies in the south east to introduce hosepipe bans to help avoid more extreme measures, such as standpipes and rota cuts. It also recommended other actions needed by companies and people to minimise the impact of drought on water supplies and the environment this summer.
Despite many water companies responding well to the earlier warnings, reservoirs and groundwater levels are starting to drop, and those water companies who have not acted to introduce hosepipe bans or reduce the demand for water are putting water supplies at an even greater risk, warned Dr King.
Dr King said as a result of two dry winters, this summer there would be more environmental problems, such as fish deaths and algal blooms because of low river levels and possibly restrictions on spray irrigation.
The drought is most severe in south east England. However, most of England and Wales has had a dry winter - only northern England has approached average rainfall.
Even after the drought order made yesterday, the first in over a decade, the Environment Agency is concerned that the water shortage message "is not sinking in" with other water authorities.
Water supplies and the environment in the south east of England are still at serious risk because of the drought and not enough action is being taken by some water companies, people and businesses to save water, the agency said.
Releasing the Drought Prospects Report - Spring Update, the Environment Agency again warned that with a hot dry summer, and possibly the most serious drought in the past 100 years, there is a real risk of standpipes being introduced in parts of south east England later this year.
"This is not just a problem for water companies - people and businesses must take this warning seriously and act to save more water," said David King, EA’s director of water management.
Despite some reservoirs being close to full, more than 70% of the public water supply in the south east comes from groundwater - where in some areas, levels are the lowest on record. Over the last 18 months rainfall has been much lower than during the 1974-76 drought, and has been very similar to the serious drought of 1932-34.
"But we're concerned the message may not be sinking in. Even if we're aware of the seriousness of this drought we can all be doing more to minimise the impact of water shortages on people, the economy, and the environment," said Dr King.
In its report, the Environment Agency calls on:
Thames Water to step up action to reduce demand for water. London's water supply remains at risk this summer and Thames Water should apply for a drought order immediately to restrict water use for non-essential activities, as any further delay will increase the risk of standpipes later in the year. Essex and Suffolk Water to introduce a hosepipe ban by the end of May to reduce the risk of supply problems later in the year.
Without restrictions in place, reservoir levels could drop very quickly. All water companies in the south east to work hard to manage drought this year by providing clear information on how people and businesses can save water, applying for non-essential use bans to restrict some uses of water, and putting more effort into finding and fixing leaks.
The recommendations follow a report in February where the Environment Agency called on all water companies in the south east to introduce hosepipe bans to help avoid more extreme measures, such as standpipes and rota cuts. It also recommended other actions needed by companies and people to minimise the impact of drought on water supplies and the environment this summer.
Despite many water companies responding well to the earlier warnings, reservoirs and groundwater levels are starting to drop, and those water companies who have not acted to introduce hosepipe bans or reduce the demand for water are putting water supplies at an even greater risk, warned Dr King.
Dr King said as a result of two dry winters, this summer there would be more environmental problems, such as fish deaths and algal blooms because of low river levels and possibly restrictions on spray irrigation.
The drought is most severe in south east England. However, most of England and Wales has had a dry winter - only northern England has approached average rainfall.
posted by tony at 4:07 PM
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