Image description: Dry, cracked earth. Image by Yusuf Gündüz.

National Drought Group to meet monthly 

The Environment Agency (EA) convened a National Drought Group meeting, following the driest spring since 1893. EA director of water, Helen Wakeham, announced the group, which is formed of the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, and experts, is now due to meet monthly following the recent designation of the North-West as being officially in drought.

The group was informed that UK reservoir levels have now fallen to 77%. In July 2022, before wide-spread drought was experienced in the UK which resulted in emergency abstraction measures, reservoir levels were at an average of 71% capacity. Helen Wakeham has warned England must “be prepared for more summer droughts as our climate changes”.

Other measures being taken

The EA is increasing compliance checks on water abstractors and ramping up river and groundwater monitoring. Fish rescues have already taken place on the Rivers Redlake and Tern in Shropshire, while navigation restrictions have been imposed on sections of the Leeds-Liverpool and Lancaster Canals.

The EA is working closely with the National Farmers Union, and Water companies reported stepped-up drought response efforts. United Utilities has increased its leak repair rate by 70%, aided by community efforts to report problems. The National Drought Group heard that without further substantial rain, some water companies may need to implement further drought measures this summer such as hosepipe bans.

The government also recently granted two reservoirs “nationally significant” status, to fast-track their delivery in East Anglia and Lancashire.