The Guardian learned after an expert meeting that drought was to be declared for a large part of theUnited Kingdom.
Prolonged dry conditionsprevented some parts of the country from getting enough rainfall throughout the summer, leading the National Drought Group to declare a formal drought . Friday as seen by the Guardian.
The Environment Agency plans to transition to drought in eight of its 14 regions. Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and South London, Hertz and North London, East he Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and East Midlands.
Two more regions are expected to move into drought later in August, according to leaked documents. These are Yorkshire and West Midlands.
The group met earlier this summer to discuss the lack of rainfall and decided to put the country in a "long period of dryness." This is the first of four emergency dry stages and is one step away from drought. Now the country is leaning towards the second stage.
This makes water distribution difficult for water companies who want to prohibit their customers from using hose pipes or washing their cars with tap water. Means it could be done nationwide.
More stringent measures can also be taken at this stage, such as banning the use of sprinklers and cleaning buildings, vehicles and windows.
This group includes Water Companies, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, National Farmers Union, Natural England, CCW, Of Watts,Water UK, and Drinking Water Inspectorate, Angling. Trust, Rivers Trust, etc.
Members of the National Drought Group reveal that river flows in many basins are projected to be lower than in 2011, a very dry year. It shows amazing data. The first few months of 2012 had heavy rains, but the river flow remained low that summer. This means that we need much more rainfall than average for months to replenish our rivers.
The dry climate has meant that reservoir levels across the country are very low and rivers are drying up. Experts warn the situation will get even worse.
Catherine Sefton, a hydrologist at the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, said: River flows remain significant or very low, and hydrological projections suggest this situation will continue over the next few months.
“Where river flow is supported by groundwater that recharges during the winter, the effects of dry weather are mitigated. and will likely lead to severe hydrological and environmental droughts, further reinforcing the water supply restrictions and fish protection now seen in the southeast.”
Drought was last announced in 2018 when water companies nationwide banned the use of hose pipes. No research has yet been conducted to determine whether this year's drought was caused by a climate disruption, but the Japan Meteorological Agency said 2018's dry conditions and extreme heat could be due to climate change. found that sex was 30 times higher.
It is also understood that Scotland and Wales have similar drought-response groups and will meet this summer when it is drier than usual.
