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Concerns about drought this summer have been raised despite reservoir levels returning to close to maximum capacity after heavy rainfall in March.
The National Drought Group (NDG), which has met regularly since the extended dry period last summer, said it is “preparing for the worst case scenario” of a repeat of 2022’s hot weather by managing water resources.
Consequently, it has called for efficiency messages to be reinforced by water companies.
Following the driest February in 30 years this year, rainfall in March was the highest for four decades and allowed reservoirs to be topped up to 94% capacity. At the end of last summer’s drought, total reservoir capacity across the country was only at 49%.
Environment Agency executive director John Leyland, who chairs the NDG, said: “Whilst water levels have improved across most of the country, a dry February followed by an particularly wet March has highlighted that we cannot rely on the weather alone to preserve our most precious resource ahead of summer.”
Drought conditions remain in Cornwall – where hosepipe bans were extended this week – and East Anglia.
To boost water resources in the short and medium term, government committed to fund £10 million towards on-farm reservoirs to secure water availability while supporting food security, as outlined in the Plan for Water.
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