3-May-2006 - Today (3rd
May 2006) the Environment Agency gave its strongest
warning yet that some water users could face restrictions
on their water use this summer.
Below average rain has fallen
in Eastern England in the last 18 months. Rivers
are at less than half their normal flow for the
time of year and groundwater levels are also low.
The Agency warned that if the summer is hot and
dry, some rivers will dry up and fish could suffer.
Farmers who use water from rivers
for crop irrigation have been asked to reduce
the amount of water they use for irrigating their
crops. Farmers are asked to prioritise their use
of water and consider the time of day they irrigate
crops to avoid wastage through evaporation.
Water company reservoirs are
at satisfactory levels but the companies and the
Agency are urging all users to use water wisely
this summer. Three Valleys Water has already imposed
hosepipe bans and others may need to if supplies
dwindle quickly.
Water companies and the Agency
have offered tips on saving water. Easy measures
include installing a water butt to store any rainwater
we do get for use later in the summer, planting
drought tolerant plants rather than masses of
bedding and washing vegetables in a bowl rather
than under a running tap.
Industrial users can also help
to conserve water, and save themselves money by
undertaking water audits, checking for leaks and
inefficient processes. Water saving advice is
given by trade organisations and other agencies
such as Envirowise.
Regional Director Paul Woodcock
said, "The water situation for the Region
is serious but manageable and in some parts of
the Region, notably Essex, South Suffolk and parts
of Cambridgeshire, is more serious than the rest
of the Region.'
"We want to see all water
users, the public, farmers and industry working
together, so that we can ensure we use the water
we do have as efficiently as possible to avoid
serious shortages and environmental damage."
Updates on the drought situation
and river levels, and tips on saving water are
available on the Agency web site: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The whole of the Anglian Region of the Environment
Agency (stretching down from the Humber Estuary
to the Thames Estuary and across from the East
Coast to Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire
and Bedfordshire in the west) has been moved from
'potential drought' to 'drought' status. This
means that a lack of water is possible for the
summer in some of these areas. Agriculture and
the environment are particularly at risk.
The Environment Agency is responsible
for ensuring that all water resources, including
reservoirs, rivers and underground water, are
managed to conserve water supplies and limit any
environmental damage that may come from low river
flows.
Water companies in the Region
are responsible for managing public supplies and
are being advised by the Agency that they may
need to introduce hosepipe bans as the summer
progresses. Hosepipe bans are effective in limiting
public water demand as people are made aware of
the shortage and take steps to limit their own
usage, which often exceed the requirements of
a hosepipe ban.
