The Environment Agency (EA) has warned England will experience worse levels of drought next year if this winter is drier than usual in its new Drought Prospects Report.
Despite recent rainfall, drought is still prevalent in areas such as Yorkshire, East Midlands, West Midlands and parts of Sussex and Kent.
Following a record dry spring and a continued run of heatwaves and dry weather throughout the summer, drought implications such as flash flooding atop dry soils is possible.
Drought it only over when water levels are fully replenished, as the new report covers three different rainfall scenarios over winter and what each one would mean for water security across England.
Helen Wakeham, director at the EA comments on the current state of drought:
“There will be a drought next year, unless we get sustained rainfall through the winter.
“The severity of that drought will depend both on the weather and the actions we take over winter following this very dry year.
“The public have been brilliant in using a little less water this summer and following the restrictions in some parts of the country. I would urge people to continue to be as efficient as possible with their water use this winter – even if it is raining outside. Our wildlife, our rivers and our public water supplies depend on it.”
Read the full report here.
In response, Fran Barnes, chief executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) comments:
“The Environment Agency’s latest report reinforces the urgent need for the government to prioritise a water resilience strategy. It is completely unacceptable that we are allowing valuable Autumn and Winter rain to, quite literally, pour down the drain at the same time as the Environment Agency warning that large parts of England could face drought again next Spring.”
The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee’s call for evidence for its new inquiry about drought preparedness in England is still open until 24 November, as it hosts another session on Wednesday 19 November exploring the impacts of drought on the urban and rural environment.
Interesting article. Good response from Fran Barnes.
Interesting that the report says ‘The drought affected public water supplies, farmers, the environment and boaters.
It’s worrying horticulture and gardeners do not get a mention.