The Environmental Agency declared a drought today (12 August) across eight major regions of England, marking the driest summer for half a century
The Environmental Agency declared a drought today (12 August) after a meeting of the National Drought Group, which includes water companies, government and agency officials, and other groups such as the National Farmers’ Union.
The drought was declared across the following regions:
- The East Midlands
- Devon and Cornwall
- Solent and South Downs
- Herts and north London
- Kent and south London
- Thames
- Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
- East Anglia
From today the following regions will move into drought status:
– Devon and Cornwall
– Solent and South Downs
– Kent and South London
– Herts and North London
– East Anglia
– Thames
– Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
– East MidlandsRead more: https://t.co/jvtx3b0Yu3 pic.twitter.com/SrneWKKnTN
— Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) August 12, 2022
What to expect: hosepipe bans, flash floods and thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are predicted by the Met Office to occur next week, but the volume of rain will be insufficient to balance the drought’s impact on crops and vegetation and may in fact increase the risk of flash flooding, as the University of Reading demonstrates:
In this experiment Dr Rob Thompson of @UniRdg_Met shows just how long it takes water to soak into parched ground, illustrating why heavy rainfall after a #drought can be dangerous and might lead to flashfloods. @R0b1et @UniRdg_water pic.twitter.com/zbb3xLTXdK
— Uni of Reading (@UniofReading) August 10, 2022
Hosepipe bans
With Yorkshire and the West Midlands also expected to have a drought declared, Yorkshire Water has already declared a hosepipe ban on non-commercial use of clean water services for its 5m clients.
Thames Water (which supplements over 15m) strategy and regulatory affairs director Cathryn Ross said when speaking to BBC Breakfast that they were “ready to go” with a hosepipe ban and in Wales, Welsh Water’s ban will come into effect on the 19th of August.
A drought being declared highlights the need for sustainable practices and achieving net zero
As the UK endures the second heatwave in six weeks, the UK Green Building Council (UKCBC) has reiterated its appeal to the government to prioritise sustainability in future housing practice and retrofit existing housing stock.
UKGBC’s director of communications, Policy & Places, Simon McWhirter, said:
“Around 80% of buildings and homes which stand today will still be occupied and inhabited in 2050. Preparing and adapting these buildings to reduce water demand, alongside energy use, is a vital part of the solution and the most cost-effective and efficient way to conserve everyday water usage and reduce costs to consumers.
“This should be an urgent policy priority for our future Prime Minister. Greater water efficiency must be designed into the forthcoming Future Homes Standard and building regulations to prevent new buildings from adding to the problem.
“We also urgently need a national strategy to upgrade the UK’s 29 million existing homes. This means ensuring they’re fitted with water-efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings, as well as ensuring they are well ventilated to prevent overheating in the summer and insulated for retaining heat in the winter.”
