The National Drought Group (NDG) has met to discuss the response to the driest summer in fifty years and the continued action needed.
At the meeting, the Environment Agency (EA) said that the drought trigger threshold had been met to move parts of the South West, parts of Southern and Central England, and the East of England into drought.
The triggers used to confirm today’s move to drought status for these areas include the hydrological position (including rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and the dryness of soils), as well as the impacts these conditions have on public water supply, abstractors (including farmers) and the environment.
This is determined by the Environment Agency at a local level, rather than nationally. The last drought in England was 2018.
The drought areas are:
- Devon and Cornwall;
- Solent and South Downs;
- Kent and South London;
- Herts and North London;
- East Anglia;
- Thames;
- Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire;
- East Midlands.
Harvey Bradshaw, Environment Agency executive director for the environment and chair of the NDG, said:
“The current high temperatures we are experiencing have exacerbated pressures on wildlife and our water environment.
“EA staff are doing an excellent job responding to environmental impacts and working with water companies to make sure they are following their drought plans.
“Today’s meeting has helped to build on our coordinated action to manage water supplies, consider water users and protect the environment.
“We urge everyone to manage the amount of water they are using in this exceptionally dry period.”
