Water limits likely: Take action now ahead of summer drought

Individuals and water companies must act now to avoid disrupted water supplies this summer, says the National Drought Group.

While England is in a better position ahead of summer compared to last year, two regions still remain in drought, with water restrictions already imposed by South West Water.

The UK’s National Drought Group (NDO) now say that we cannot rely solely on weather to keep expanded drought at bay.

At the beginning of April, reservoirs across England sat at 94% capacity. This compares to a low point last September, after months of drought, where the country’s total capacity sat at 49%.

In an attempt to avoid similar scenes, the NDO say that water companies must work to reduce leaks and decrease water consumption. This falls in line with the government’s new Plan for Water.

Measures are already being taken to plan for a worst case scenario which sees another hot, dry summer season, this includes managing current water resources through restrictions as seen imposed across Cornwall and parts of Devon.

The year so far has seen a mix of weather, with the driest February for three decades followed immediately by the wettest March for 40 years.

While the topic of drought remains a concern in the UK and Ireland, it also remains a widespread issue across Europe.

In Denmark, drought index levels, a local measurement, have already reached levels 8 and 9, out of 10, in the Copenhagen area. While France, Spain, and Portugal all see continued issues, exacerbated in France by the driest winter season for six decades.