Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

England drought: Everyone must rethink their water use, experts say

England drought: Everyone must rethink their water use, experts say

Everyone who uses water must rethink and make sure they use it wisely, the chairman of the body that has declared droughts around England says.

"We have got to rethink... and that means everyone, not just regulators and government," said Harvey Bradshaw, chairman of the National Drought Group.

He is also executive director of the Environment Agency, which has warned the drought could last into next year.

A Met Office warning of extreme heat is continuing into Sunday.

The amber alert covers southern and central England and parts of Wales.

Rain is forecast for Monday but the agency says weeks of showers are needed to replenish water sources.

An official drought was declared in eight areas of England on Friday by the National Drought Group, which comprises representatives from the government, water companies, the Environment Agency and others.

John Curtin, executive director of local operations for the Environment Agency, told the BBC "this is not a normal summer" and warned lack of water would be an issue for several months.

"We'll need probably average or slightly above average rainfall this autumn into this winter for us to not be in a drought next year," he said.


His colleague Mr Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4: "We have enough water for public supply but as you run into ever drier conditions you take more serious actions to conserve the water you have and we are on that process now.

"We have got an exceptional set of circumstances which has led to this drought and we've all got a responsibility to play out now, including and principally the water companies.

"We expect water companies to bear down on leaks, we expect water companies to put in more pipes to connect their network."

He said that firms needed to move "faster and harder", adding that the Environment Agency, the regulator Ofwat, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate had formed an alliance encouraging them to come forward with plans for necessary infrastructure improvements.

"We've also produced a national framework that says 'this is the water we will need in 50 years' time and this is where it might come from'," he said.

"I've just been looking over the last 12 months and nearly every month we've had below average rainfall - low levels or exceptionally low levels.

"There is real stress in the environment and people are suffering."

He said that the group is also helping farmers, including putting those who are not using all of their water supply in touch with farmers who need it.

"But the bottom line is there isn't much water around," he added.

Thames Water has apologised after around 7,000 households in Surrey have been left with little or no water on one of the hottest days of the year following technical issues at a treatment works facility.

The water company, which is expected to implement a hosepipe ban in the next couple of weeks, has been handing out bottled water in Cranleigh and Dorking after supply problems at the Netley Mill Water Treatment Works.

Some customers are starting to see water return to their homes after disruption began on Friday, but Thames Water said fixing the issue was "not straight-forward".


The fire risk in several parts of England is at its highest level, according to the Met Office Fire Severity Index, with hot, tinder-dry conditions creating what has been described as an "unprecedented" situation.

A large wildfire broke out in the Cornish town of Camborne on Saturday, while around 30 firefighters have also been tackling a blaze which has spread across five corn fields in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

And a leading firefighter in Dorset and Wiltshire, which faced a major fire on heathland on Friday, said there had been a 429% increase in the number of wildfires for the first 10 days of August compared to the same period last year.

Area manager Jason Moncrief said fire crews in his area were "massively stretched" as they deal with the increased demand.

Water companies are being told they must do more to reduce the number of leaks


Labour has called on the government to summon a meeting of the Cobra civil contingencies committee to ensure water supplies were protected amid the ongoing drought.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "Conservative inaction on drought warnings is creating a dust bowl Britain.

"Instead of stepping in, ministers have fallen asleep in the midday sun. They lecture the public on the use of hosepipes, but where is their plan to protect our vital water system?"

Water Minister Steve Double said: "All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe, and we have made it clear it is their duty to maintain those supplies.

"We are better prepared than ever before for periods of dry weather, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: “The Current Welfare State Can No Longer Be Financed”
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
Wizz Air passengers screamed as storm-battered flight diverts to Bologna
European postal services halt U.S. deliveries after Trump imposes new tariffs
Urban explorer finds abandoned luxury restaurant left to decay
Fidesz leader labels Péter Magyar a ‘bluffer’ amid escalating political spat
French rope park operator arrested for denying entry to Israeli children
Újpest thrashes Zalaegerszeg 4-1 to secure first win in five matches
Profit-margin cap costs retailers 13 billion forints a month, warns trade group
Curiosity rover finds coral-like rock on Mars hinting at watery past
U.S. green policy rollback drives investors to Europe’s sustainable finance market
Special funerals rise in Hungary: boat, aerial and forest burials gain popularity
Hungary’s Kiskunság region turning into semi-desert after extreme drought
Kopasz Bálint wins world kayak 1000 m title in Milan, making him triple world champion
Budapest’s Keleti railway station to close for four weeks for track overhaul
Balaton could be unfit for swimming by 2035 and dry by 2050, scientists warn
Leaked guidelines show Meta’s AI allowed flirty and racist interactions with children
Filming of ‘Emily in Paris’ halted after assistant director dies on set
Filipino guest workers sue after Hungary moves to deport them for pregnancy
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
A monster hit and a billion-dollar toy empire
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
Canada: Nurse Suspended and Fined 93 Thousand Dollars After Stating the World’s Most Well-Known Fact Since the Creation of Adam and Eve, That There Are Only Two Genders
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Whitney Bessent Backs Stablecoins to Boost Treasury Demand
Spain to Declare Disaster Zones After Massive Wildfires
Three-Minute Battery Swap Touted as Future of EVs
Beijing Military Parade to Showcase Weapons Advances
×