Millions of households across the UK might soon be dealing with water usage restrictions because of the driest start to a year recorded in decades. The Environment Agency has sounded the alarm, suggesting a “medium” chance of drought conditions in England this summer if we don’t see sustained rainfall.
Currently, there are no hosepipe bans in place, but the regulator has hinted that water companies should be ready to introduce measures, possibly including restrictions, within the next few months following one of the driest springs in 61 years for some regions.
With millions of homes at risk of hosepipe bans thanks to such a dry spring, are you worried about your garden? Have your say in our comments section.
After England’s record-breaking wet spell from October 2023 to September 2024 which led to extreme flooding and trouble for farmers planting crops, the current dry period marks a significant shift in weather patterns.
Chris Weston, the chief executive of Thames Water, has expressed concern regarding the necessity to impose restrictions this summer due to the lack of rain during spring. He disclosed to a committee of MPs that the country’s biggest water provider has recently ramped up its drought strategy, trying to get customers to save water.
In his statement covered by the Mirror, he assured: “I am confident that we won’t run out of water,” yet he also cautioned: “I am not confident that we won’t have to restrict usage because that will depend on what the weather does and what rainfall happens between now and the summer.”
During a session with the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Mr Weston confirmed that the company’s reservoirs are at 94% capacity, saying, “We are prepared as best we can be for a drought event”. He explained that Thames Water operates on four levels of drought preparedness, having just recently moved up from level zero to one.
MPs, however, raised concerns regarding Thames Water’s considerable leakage problem, where it loses 56 mega-tonnes of water every single day. Concerns were further amplified by the revelation that plans for a new reservoir in Oxfordshire won’t kick off until 2028, with its completion expected well into the next decade.
Across the country, reservoirs are averaging an 84% full level, but Thirlmere and Haweswater in the Lake District are alarmingly only 58% full and continue to decrease by up to 2% each week. In response to such situations, United Utilities, which supplies water to the northwest, is already urging its customers to use water sparingly.
Climate change is being cited as the culprit behind the extreme weather patterns, with specialists cautioning this as a harbinger of future conditions. Scotland and Northern Ireland are witnessing their driest starts to the year in many years, reporting considerably low rainfall figures. England has not been spared either, enduring its driest February to April stretch since 1956.
In response to the drought conditions, water companies are taking decisive action by fixing leaks and redistributing water to the areas most in need. A spokesperson for Water UK declared: “Following the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years, water companies have been taking two actions: first, they are setting new records for repairing leaks; and second, they are moving water across their regions to relieve the driest areas.”
Water UK is encouraging consumers to use water wisely and has provided tips on how to save water around the house and garden through its Water’s Worth Saving website. They suggest various practices including watering plants selectively, moving pots to shaded areas, and embracing brown lawns, assuring that they will recover when it rains.
The National Trust has observed a remarkable spring bloom this year across its managed lands, coasts, and gardens in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Despite this “incredible” spring for flowers, highlighted by cherry blossoms, bluebells, apple blossom, and hawthorn due to last year’s rainy season followed by sunshine, Rebecca Bevan, the Trust’s senior national consultant on plant health and sustainability, cautioned: “With this year’s spring set to become one of the driest on record, this initial display is likely to be followed by less good performance into the summer as many trees and other plants will be put under stress by the lack of rain.”
Richard Thompson, Deputy Director of Water at the Environment Agency, warned about the impact of climate change on water supply: “The changing climate means we will see more summer droughts in the coming decades. The last two years were some of the wettest on record for England but drier conditions at the start of this year mean a drought is a possibility and we need to be prepared. It’s heartening to see more people looking to reduce their water use and we expect water companies to do more to cut leakage and rollout smart meters.”
A representative from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs gave their view: “Our water infrastructure is crumbling after years of underinvestment, with population growth and climate change adding further strain. We are monitoring water levels and expect water companies to cut leaks and take action to protect supplies. Over £104 billion of private sector investment has been secured to fund essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, to help secure our future water supply.”
With millions of homes at risk of hosepipe bans thanks to such a dry spring, are you worried about your garden? Have your say in our comments section.
