Severe drought declared in parts of six English counties
Severe drought was declared Thursday in parts of six counties in southern England, the BBC and the Guardian reported. Two key reservoirs are less than 20% full after the driest April to September in over 100 years. An expert said in comments published by the University of Reading that it may take months to recover.
Severe drought has been declared in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, with some reservoirs at critically low levels, the BBC and the Guardian reported.
The BBC said the Environment Agency made the announcement Thursday after a review of water resources by the National Drought Group. The South East and South West had their driest April to September in more than a century, the outlets reported. The Guardian said the dry spell was fueled by the climate crisis.
The move was prompted by concerns about two major reservoirs, Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball on Exmoor, the BBC reported. The BBC, citing the latest water company figures, put Wimbleball at 14.9% of capacity and Ardingly at 19.4%. South West Water's reservoir page lists Wimbleball at 15% as of Oct. 12. The agency would expect storage of about 75% at this time of year, the outlets reported.
The government and the agency will move to daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels and step up water quality checks, the Guardian reported. The government said customer supplies would not be interrupted, the BBC reported.
"This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades," Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said, according to both outlets. The Guardian reported that she has not yet approved requests from three water companies to restrict non-essential water use by businesses such as golf clubs and car washes.
Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist and professor of meteorology and climate at the University of Reading, said in comments published by the University of Reading: "Recovery is likely to take many months rather than weeks, even if wetter conditions arrive." She said low reservoirs and rivers "leave far less room for manoeuvre if dry conditions persist."
Wessex Water's first hosepipe ban in 50 years will stay in place for the foreseeable future, the BBC reported. Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers' Union, said it had been a "torrid year for farmers," the BBC reported.
What we know: Parts of six counties are in severe drought, and two key reservoirs are below 20% full.
What we don't: How soon enough rain will fall to refill reservoirs and whether new limits on business water use will follow.
Where outlets agree The BBC and the Guardian both report severe drought in parts of six counties, driven by critically low levels at Ardingly and Wimbleball reservoirs.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.