皇冠体育app

Areas in the South West, South East, and Midlands are experiencing near-drought conditions following the driest spring on record in South East and Central Southern England, and the driest right across England and Wales since 1990.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman will hold a second drought summit to review the impacts of the continuing dry weather and consider what more can be done.

Mrs Spelman said:

鈥淒rought has hit parts of East Anglia, with other areas in England and Wales also giving grounds for concern.

鈥淲ater companies are confident that supplies are high enough so that widespread restrictions to the public are unlikely. We鈥檙e doing all we can to reduce the impact on agriculture and wildlife, but everyone can play their part.

鈥淗ouseholds know how to use less water and everyone can do their bit to use water more wisely, not only through the summer, but throughout the year.鈥�

Utility companies, farmers, water companies and environment groups are meeting today to discuss what can be done to share resources, save water and build resilience for future dry conditions.

Although some areas across the country have benefited from recent rainfall, this has done little to improve the situation in the driest areas.

Agriculture in particular has been affected by the dry weather, with the overall picture mixed for producers and growers. Some horticultural crops have聽 benefited from an earlier season and high consumer demand, but the lack of rainfall is now causing more general challenges for the sector and聽 some cereal crops are already facing irreversible effects.

皇冠体育app Environment Agency is monitoring rivers and will respond quickly to pollution incidents or low oxygen levels and wildlife stranded by rivers drying up.

皇冠体育app organisation is working closely with farmers and other water abstractors to find ways to make water resources go further. In parts of the central Fens, some farmers and growers have volunteered to irrigate only at night, to reduce evaporation and some abstractors are forming water co-operatives to share the limited amounts available.

皇冠体育app Environment Agency鈥檚 Chief Executive, Dr Paul Leinster said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Environment Agency, water companies and other water users have plans in place to cope with drought to ensure there is enough water for people, businesses and the environment.

鈥淢any rivers have low flows as result of the dry weather which can harm wildlife and increase the impact of pollution incidents, so we are stepping up our monitoring to be able to respond quickly.

鈥淟ow river flows also impact on business, as it abstracts millions of gallons from rivers on a daily basis and we need to ensure this is sustainable. It鈥檚 important that we all use water wisely at all times of the year, and especially during drought.鈥�

Notes

皇冠体育app Environment Secretary鈥檚 first drought summit on 16 May was attended by Water UK, the UK Irrigation Association, the NFU, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Horticultural Trade Association, British Waterways and the department for Communities and Local Government.

Today鈥檚 abstractors鈥� meeting will be attended by Defra, Environment Agency, British Waterways, NFU, Water UK, Horticultural Trades Association, Natural England, Department for Communities and Local Government, Association of Drainage Authorities, representatives from聽 the energy sector, British & International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Racecourses Association, Salmon & Trout Association, Rivers Trust, Angling Trust, WWF, Waterwise, Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat, RSPB, ADAS, Water Abstractors Groups, Wrap (Envirowise), CBI, Cabinet Office, Met Office, UKIA and Institute of Fisheries Management.