South West England has been deemed to be in a state of drought.
Following some of the driest weather in over a century, Bristol, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Dorset, and portions of Wiltshire have been declared drought-stricken.
The Environment Agency’s (EA) decision follows announcements of drought in ten other regions of the nation.
Due to the impact of the dry summer on the ecosystem, people have been reminded to “use water wisely.”
Based on statistics including rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and soil dryness, the EA verified the South West’s drought designation.
According to a national analysis of the water condition in England for the month of July, it was the driest July since 1935.
The EA noted that rivers, groundwater levels, and reservoir stocks have all fallen following five consecutive months of below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures.
Chris Paul, the EA’s area drought lead, stated that despite considerable rainfall over the past two weeks, it was insufficient to make up for the dry summer.
“River levels throughout our Wessex region are extremely low, with many rivers exhibiting their lowest flows on record,” he stated.
This puts a tremendous strain on local fauna, which is why we are transitioning to drought status.
Mr. Paul continued, “We are prioritizing our local activities to minimize environmental concerns.
The EA stated that it will monitor the consequences of the dry weather on rivers and respond to environmental emergencies, such as rescuing fish that have become trapped.
Mr. Paul continued, “We will also ensure that people and businesses with water abstraction licenses operate solely within the conditions of their license and take legal action against those who fail to comply or anyone who extracts water without a license.”
