A portion of Wales has been declared drought-stricken after a protracted stretch of dry weather and minimal precipitation led water levels to plunge.
South-west Wales received only 65.5% of its typical rainfall for the month of July, and rivers are now “exceptionally low,” according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
In addition, the first hosepipe ban in Wales in more than three decades goes into effect at 08:00 BST.
The prohibition applies to Pembrokeshire and portions of Carmarthenshire.
It means that people will not be permitted to use a hose to water their plants or wash their vehicles.
NRW reported that the threshold for declaring a drought in southwest Wales was met on Friday, with the period between March and July being the driest five-month period in the country’s history.
It was stated that the decision was made in conjunction with the Drought Liaison Group of the Welsh government due to the impact of the extended heatwave on the environment, particularly rivers and reservoirs.
The areas affected by drought are:
- Ceredigion (Rheidol, Aeron, Ystwyth)
- River Teifi
- Pembrokeshire (Cleddau River)
- The town of Carmarthen (Tywi and Taf)
- Llanelli and Swansea (Tawe and Loughor)
- The towns of Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend (Neath, Afan, Ogmore)
NRW’s Natalie Hall stated, “We have chosen to declare a drought in south-west Wales when it became evident that the lack of precipitation and recent heat have put a significant pressure on our rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater levels.”
It can affect some of our most valuable environments and species, as well as systems we frequently take for granted, like our water supply.
It may be raining in some areas of Wales, but it can take a long time to recover from drought, making water a valuable resource.
Recent days have witnessed the reemergence of Llanwddyn village in Powys, which was submerged in the 19th century to create Lake Vyrnwy reservoir and deliver water to Liverpool.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water stated that the hosepipe ban was required because the Llys y Fran reservoir in Pembrokeshire had reached drought levels and the firm had observed record demand for water during the heatwaves.
It stated that there was no imminent threat to water supplies in the region, but it was taking steps to assure sufficient water supplies for the upcoming months.
Infractions of the rules will incur a £1000 fine, which will be in effect for several weeks.
Other English water corporations have previously implemented hosepipe bans.
The three-and-a-half-acre garden of Wendy Kinver in Pont Trecynny, near Fishguard, was one of 10 gardens selected for the 2019 Daily Mail Garden of the Year award.
She stated that she had already lost several plants and trees as a result of the hot, dry weather.
“It’s generally a very damp garden, and we’ve put plants that thrive in such conditions, so of course, they’re suffering greatly in this weather.
“Fortunately, on one plot we have a pond that fills with natural spring water, so my husband and I will be hand-watering from the pond day and night – it’s a massive undertaking.”
Drought prompts the first Welsh hosepipe ban in thirty years.
She continued, “We often experience such wet summers and winters, and I cannot comprehend why Welsh Water has not been able to conserve enough water.”
In the meantime, Simon Richards repaired a historic walled garden in Lamphey, stating that the situation might be “a genuine problem for many people.”
“If you’ve spent hundreds or thousands of dollars creating a beautiful garden as I have, you don’t want your plants to perish,” he said.
Due in part to climate change and water “becoming scarcer and more costly,” he has carefully built his garden to be drought-resistant.
“Rainfall is decreasing and growing more sporadic, which is the greatest challenge; thus, we must adapt our systems,” he stated.
Steve Whitehead, the chief gardener at the National Trust’s Colby Woodland Garden in Amroth, cited climate change as one of his primary worries.
“We collect rainwater from the rooftops of our buildings and only use a hose to water our container plants and little nursery,” he explained.
Due to the dry weather in recent weeks, he had to “re-dig some of our ponds” and relocate tadpoles.
The water table is at least a foot lower than I’ve ever seen it at the bottom of this valley, and the stream has diminished to a trickle.
According to Water UK, which represents the United Kingdom’s water sector, hosepipe bans often lower water consumption in a region by roughly 10%.
The hosepipe ban is the first to be implemented in Wales since 1989, and Welsh Water stated that it would remain in effect until sufficient rainfall replenished the Pembrokeshire reservoirs.
The region is mostly supplied by the Llys-f-Fran and Rosebush reservoirs.
Tankers have also been transporting water from the company’s Capi Dewi facilities in Carmarthenshire to the Rhoshill hamlet near Cilgerran to replenish the main water supply.
Wales is divided into 24 “water resource zones,” of which the current hosepipe restriction area is one.
According to Welsh Water’s drought plan, each of these zones is virtually self-contained, with little ability to transport water from one to another.
This reduces the flexibility to manage droughts in individual regions, even if Wales’s overall water supply is healthy.
What is the difference between a drought and a ban on the use of hosepipes?
A hosepipe ban is one of the limitations that may be imposed as a result of the declaration of a drought, which is preceded by an examination of several criteria related to low precipitation.
The first involves monitoring the river and reservoir levels, while the second involves asking individuals to contribute to water conservation.
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has already reported that the Llys y Fran reservoir, which provides water to Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire, has reached drought levels.
It is the reason why a hosepipe ban has been enacted in that particular area to help maintain and manage drinking water supplies.
NRW, through the Welsh Government’s Drought Liaison Group, has examined a variety of broader triggers, such as river and groundwater levels, water quality, and the impact on wildlife, to proclaim an official state of drought across a significant portion of southwest Wales.
It is more about the message this conveys – rather than more limitations at this time – to increase awareness of the situation and encourage everyone to be more conscientious about their water usage and to report situations such as fish in distress.
Ian Christie, managing director of water services for Welsh Water, stated that the decision to implement the ban was not made lightly.
“If we do not act now, there is a genuine possibility of additional limits in the future, which is something we want to avoid for our customers,” he said.
“With no significant precipitation in the forecast, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure water flow.”
