Severe drought declared across parts of England with water resources ‘under immense pressure’

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Severe drought has been declared in parts of Southern England after the Environment Agency warned water resources are “under immense pressure”. The declaration was made for parts of Cornwall , Devon , Dorset , Somerset , East Sussex and West Sussex after a record-breaking hot summer that saw a heightened demand for water. The announcement was made by the Environment Agency following a meeting of the National Drought Group, which reviewed water resources and drought conditions across England. The South East and South West have experienced their driest April to September for more than a century, affecting reservoirs in those areas, officials said. Water companies have been told to step up drought planning, amid efforts to protect public water supplies in the affected areas. open image in gallery A drought was declared in Dorset for the first time in 50 years this summer ( Getty ) Environment Agency says severe drought is the most critical stage of the dry conditions and can have “lasting effects on the environment, farming, people, communities, and the economy.” The Environment Agency says on its website: “The lack of water leads to serious water shortages and widespread impacts across sectors. “It’s when the lack of water begins to disrupt daily life and the environment in major ways.” Water companies in parts of England have been told to step up drought planning, as the government takes measures to protect customer supplies in areas entering severe drought. open image in gallery Map of Southern England shows the parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex affected by the severe drought in red ( Environment Agency ) While customer water supplies will be uninterrupted, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says “declaring a severe drought ensures proactive steps are taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs”. The declaration has been prompted by concerns about two major reservoirs that supply hundreds of thousands of customers, and which have seen water levels drop far below what would be expected at this time of year. Ardingly in West Sussex, which supplies about 95,000 properties served by South East Water in Haywards Heath, Uckfield and the surrounding areas, is at 19% capacity. Wimbleball in Somerset, which provides for about 300,000 South West Water and Wessex Water customers in East and North Devon, Somerset and West Dorset, is 16% full. The Environment Agency said it would expect the reservoirs to be at 75% capacity at this time of year. There are also concerns about several smaller reservoirs serving homes in Devon and Cornwall, the agency said. Environment secretary, Dame Angela Eagle, said: “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning. “We are working closely with water companies to protect public supplies in the areas affected, and I’d continue to urge everyone to think about how they can use water wisely over the coming weeks. “Our strengthened Water Bill is all about taking back public control of our water companies. We are at the start of a decade-long journey to a very different water system, including nine new major reservoirs to secure supplies.” Environment Agency Chief Executive, Philip Duffy, said: “Record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have put our water resources under immense pressure. “Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use. We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now. We expect them to follow their drought plans and take the steps needed to secure public water supplies. “We are also asking everyone to use less water. That will leave more in our rivers and the environment, helping farmers and protecting wildlife and nature.”