Public urged to join drought action

The Environment Agency is to consider the implications if 2012/13 is a third dry winter in a row, as drought is officially declared in the South East.

Meanwhile, environment secretary Caroline Spelman implored everyone to do their bit to save water, following a drought summit on Monday.
Drought-vulnerable water companies pledged to ramp up leakage detection, raise customer awareness, co-ordinate hosepipe bans where necessary and talk to the Environment Agency about drought permits as early as ­possible.
Spelman said: “It is not just the responsibility of government, water companies and businesses to act against drought. We are asking for the help of everyone by urging them to use less water and to start now.”
Farmers are being encouraged to set up abstractor groups, ­consider on-farm storage and minimise spray irrigation.
Southern Water applied for a drought permit last week to boost supplies at Bewl Water, last measured at 41 per cent full, from the River Medway.
However, Anglian Water has warned that its Rutland Water reservoir is worryingly low, despite having a drought permit in place, because there is not enough flow in the River Nene to draw from.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 24 February 2012.
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