London: Britain officially declared dry in parts of England Homes on Friday faced new water use restrictions during a period of prolonged hot and dry weather that has already put the country’s infrastructure to a severe test.
The Environment Agency said in a statement that parts of southern, central and eastern England are now in a state of drought, meaning water companies will intensify efforts to manage the impact of the dry season on farmers and the environment.
“All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe, and we have made it clear that it is their duty to maintain those supplies,” Water Minister Steve Double said after a meeting of the National Drought Group.
“We are better prepared than ever for a period of dry weather, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely, including the impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed.”
The meeting followed the driest July in England since 1935. Only 35% of the average rainfall for the month fell, and parts of England and Wales are now in the midst of a four-day “extreme heat” warning. The last drought in England was 2018.
The meteorological department’s national forecaster issued a warning for Monday on Friday, saying that when the dry season breaks early next week, rain and thunderstorms are less likely to flood parts of the country.
hose pipe ban
Much of Europe has suffered weeks of baking temperatures that have triggered major wildfires, drained water levels along the Rhine River in Germany and saw the source of Britain’s Thames river drier downstream than in years past Is.
Earlier on Friday, Yorkshire Water announced a ban on hosepipes would begin on 26 August, forbidding customers from using hoses in water gardens, washing cars or filling paddling pools.
“The hot, dry, weather means Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are about 20% lower than expected at this time of year,” said Neil Davis, Yorkshire Water’s director of waters.
The company, which serves some 2.3 million homes and 130,000 business customers in parts of northern England and the Midlands, is the latest regional water firm to announce usage restrictions.
The ban on hoses and sprinklers for Southeast Water customers went into effect Friday. Thames Water, which supplies about 15 million people Londonhas said it is also planning sanctions.
The Environment Agency said in a statement that parts of southern, central and eastern England are now in a state of drought, meaning water companies will intensify efforts to manage the impact of the dry season on farmers and the environment.
“All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe, and we have made it clear that it is their duty to maintain those supplies,” Water Minister Steve Double said after a meeting of the National Drought Group.
“We are better prepared than ever for a period of dry weather, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely, including the impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed.”
The meeting followed the driest July in England since 1935. Only 35% of the average rainfall for the month fell, and parts of England and Wales are now in the midst of a four-day “extreme heat” warning. The last drought in England was 2018.
The meteorological department’s national forecaster issued a warning for Monday on Friday, saying that when the dry season breaks early next week, rain and thunderstorms are less likely to flood parts of the country.
hose pipe ban
Much of Europe has suffered weeks of baking temperatures that have triggered major wildfires, drained water levels along the Rhine River in Germany and saw the source of Britain’s Thames river drier downstream than in years past Is.
Earlier on Friday, Yorkshire Water announced a ban on hosepipes would begin on 26 August, forbidding customers from using hoses in water gardens, washing cars or filling paddling pools.
“The hot, dry, weather means Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are about 20% lower than expected at this time of year,” said Neil Davis, Yorkshire Water’s director of waters.
The company, which serves some 2.3 million homes and 130,000 business customers in parts of northern England and the Midlands, is the latest regional water firm to announce usage restrictions.
The ban on hoses and sprinklers for Southeast Water customers went into effect Friday. Thames Water, which supplies about 15 million people Londonhas said it is also planning sanctions.