Key points
- England experienced its driest and warmest spring in over 130 years
- The Environment Agency is increasing water monitoring, supporting farmers
- Authorities warn of more frequent summer droughts due to climate change
ISLAMABAD: Britain said on Thursday it would step up efforts to protect its water resources ahead of the summer, after the driest and warmest spring in England in over 130 years.
According to Reuters, the Environment Agency (EA) said reservoirs across England were only 77 per cent full, compared with the average 93 per cent for this time of year, although it noted that recent rain at the start of June was having a positive effect.
Some canals were facing navigation issues, while the quality of spring crops was concerning due to dry soil and poor grass growth for feed, the National Drought Group heard on Thursday, in the first of a series of monthly meetings to assess the situation.
“Driest spring since 1893”
According to a UK government press release, an expert group told England has now experienced driest March, April and May since 1893.
Earlier, in May, Guardian quoting scientists reported that exceptionally low river flows are predicted across the UK this summer as a drought becomes more likely.
“It’s been the driest spring since 1893, and we need to be prepared for more summer droughts as our climate changes,” the group’s chair and the EA’s director of water, Helen Wakeham, said, according to Reuters.
“We must ensure we have enough water to last the entire summer,” she added, urging the public to be mindful about their daily use.
Wakeham also said recent rainfall was helping but that it hadn’t been enough to prevent a drought being declared in the northwest of England.
Prolonged dry weather
Northeast England, Yorkshire, East and West Midlands were also experiencing prolonged dry weather, the EA said.
The agency is now carrying out more compliance checks on water-intensive businesses, increasing monitoring of river and groundwater levels and helping farmers plan their water needs.
Scientists say climate change is making droughts and drier summers more frequent.
The drought group meeting saw water companies present their drought plans, which include fixing any leaks more quickly and communicating more frequently with customers.
Some companies may need to go further to conserve water supplies in the absence of further substantial rain, the EA said, according to Reuters.
