Almost three quarters of England remains in drought despite recent rain, as the Environment Agency (EA) warns there is still a very long way to go to repair the damage caused by this year's extreme weather conditions.
Officials say the country is still gripped in a battle with its third drought in five years. While rain has turned the grass green again, and it would be "understandable" to think the drought was over, a spokesperson for the EA said there are still concerns over a number of reservoirs at very low levels.
National Drought Group meeting
This warning comes after the latest meeting of the National Drought Group of ministers, officials, water companies, farming leaders, anglers and conservation experts, which has focused on the impacts of the prolonged dry conditions on farmers.
Despite a recent return to steady rain in many areas - which has provided relief for farmers as they continue to harvest root crops such as potatoes and carrots - the North East and North West of England remain in prolonged dry weather, and the rest of the country is in drought.
Bluetongue and water stress
The hot weather has also exacerbated the current outbreak of bluetongue, the group heard. This is a disease spread by midges, which is putting pressure on livestock farmers, while some have had to use winter food stocks for their animals already because of the dry weather.
All regions continue to experience some degree of water stress after five heatwaves in what has been provisionally declared the hottest summer on record, and with less than two thirds (64%) of the expected seasonal rainfall.
The UK is facing increasingly extreme weather such as heatwaves, droughts and intense rainfall because of climate change which is driven mostly by burning fossil fuels for power, heating and transport – a situation which will continue to worsen until climate warming emissions are cut to net zero.
Government response
Water minister Emma Hardy, who chaired Thursday’s (10 September) National Drought Group, said: "We’re experiencing our third drought in five years and the recent rainfall, while welcome, is not yet enough to replenish all the water we’ve used this summer."
"Long-term resilience is a priority for this Government," she added. "We are providing practical support for our hardworking farmers, who are at the sharp end of both drought and floods. We are funding more on-farm reservoirs, and we are also strengthening the country’s water infrastructure with nine new major reservoirs."
Ms Hardy continued: "As we move through the autumn, we expect water companies to take every available step to minimise leakage, follow their drought plans, and reduce consumption to help avoid any further restrictions."
Rainfall and forecast
Officials warn that the summer saw not only low rainfall but an increased demand by the public, agriculture and industry, with water use increasing by as much as 30% on the hottest days. The south and east of England has received just over half the expected rainfall in the past six months, and autumn and winter rainfall will be important to recharge groundwater reserves, a process that takes months through hardened soils.
September has seen a third of its average monthly rainfall to date, and the Met Office is forecasting a return to drier conditions in the second half of September - particularly in the south where the rain is most needed. However, supercharged El Nino conditions in the Pacific which affect weather across the world will put the UK at greater risk of a wet stormy autumn overall, forecasters say.
Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency said: "The recent rain has seen the grass turn green again and it would be understandable to think the drought is over. However, drought recovery is a very long process and only complete once reservoirs, rivers and groundwaters are back to normal."
Ms Wakeham continued: "Even when they are classed as healthy, we will still see the impacts on bird populations, fish stocks, and wider ecosystems for years to come. We still have a very long way to go, and we currently have a number of very low reservoirs that are of concern – so we are still asking for everyone’s help in using a little less water throughout the autumn."
"Every drop we save speeds up drought recovery and means more water for farmers, the environment, and our wildlife," she added.
