DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman held a drought summit with water companies, the Environment Agency and growers on Monday as the UK struggles with just 61 per cent of its normal rainfall for the past three months.
“We’re not in a drought yet,” Spelman emphasised, “although the severity of dry conditions differs from place to place. I have asked the Environment Agency to report next week on the likelihood of a drought in the longer term, and how it might affect our farmers and growers, our food industry and consumers. Water companies are continuing to monitor the situation and… are going to provide me with an update on water supplies and they are also going to review their drought plans.”
Spelman said she had also arranged a further meeting of those who get their water from rivers, to help find steps they can take to make that water go further, both in the short and long term.
She added that the actions agreed at the meeting were just the first steps in protecting the UK from a potential drought and said a follow-up meeting will be held next month if there has been no change in the situation.
Just 24 per cent of the long-term average rain fell in April, while soil moisture levels at the start of April were more usual for June. Reservoirs are mostly at near normal levels but many rivers are seeing exceptionally low flows.
The Environment Agency told freshinfo that there are no spray irrigation restrictions in place under section 57 of the Water Resources Act (1991) but some irrigation licences have a hands-off flow restriction if water levels drop below a certain point. “Although the weather remains dry and is of increasing concern, rainfall over the past week has helped restore river flows in some locations across the country,” said a spokesman.
“The dry weather has resulted in irrigation beginning earlier this year and if it continues, it is possible that growers in some areas may be asked to reduce the amount of water they take from rivers. Some businesses whose permission to abstract from rivers is linked to river flows have already had to reduce the amount of water they take and we are working closely with growers to keep them updated.”