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| Is the UK heading for a drought and will there be more hosepipe bans? | Is the UK heading for a drought and will there be more hosepipe bans? |
| (3 days later) | |
| Following the driest July in England since 1935, some water companies have introduced hosepipe bans. | Following the driest July in England since 1935, some water companies have introduced hosepipe bans. |
| It has raised concerns that the UK could be heading for a drought. | It has raised concerns that the UK could be heading for a drought. |
| What is a drought? | What is a drought? |
| A drought relates to a lack of water, but there are different types of drought and their nature and impact might vary. | A drought relates to a lack of water, but there are different types of drought and their nature and impact might vary. |
| The Royal Meteorological Society says a drought is not just a lack of water for a specific time. For example, there can be agricultural droughts where there is not enough water to grow a crop. | The Royal Meteorological Society says a drought is not just a lack of water for a specific time. For example, there can be agricultural droughts where there is not enough water to grow a crop. |
| The decision on whether to declare a drought in England is taken by the Environment Agency, which coordinates the response with water companies. The agency doesn't use a single definition of a drought - it takes into account factors like the impact on people and how long a drought will last. | The decision on whether to declare a drought in England is taken by the Environment Agency, which coordinates the response with water companies. The agency doesn't use a single definition of a drought - it takes into account factors like the impact on people and how long a drought will last. |
| Scottish agency issues water scarcity warning | Scottish agency issues water scarcity warning |
| Why has 2022 seen drought warnings? | Why has 2022 seen drought warnings? |
| The National Drought Group moved England into "Prolonged Dry Weather" status - the stage before a drought - at an emergency meeting. | The National Drought Group moved England into "Prolonged Dry Weather" status - the stage before a drought - at an emergency meeting. |
| In the first three months of the year, England's rainfall was down 26% and in Wales it was down 22%. | In the first three months of the year, England's rainfall was down 26% and in Wales it was down 22%. |
| This meant, even before the summer started, that average river flows were "below normal" or "exceptionally low". | This meant, even before the summer started, that average river flows were "below normal" or "exceptionally low". |
| July saw temperature records broken multiple times and rainfall is down 76%. | July saw temperature records broken multiple times and rainfall is down 76%. |
| These conditions have been made worse by the overconsumption of water. More than 28% of underground water sources are overused, the government says. | These conditions have been made worse by the overconsumption of water. More than 28% of underground water sources are overused, the government says. |
| Driest July in England since 1935 - Met Office | Driest July in England since 1935 - Met Office |
| The UK's heatwave records in charts | The UK's heatwave records in charts |
| Is the UK getting hotter? | Is the UK getting hotter? |
| Where are hosepipe bans being imposed? | Where are hosepipe bans being imposed? |
| Water companies are allowed to bring in hosepipe bans to reduce water usage. | Water companies are allowed to bring in hosepipe bans to reduce water usage. |
| These can be announced in response to river and reservoir levels running low. | These can be announced in response to river and reservoir levels running low. |
| Thames Water, which has 15 million customers, is the latest company to announce a ban. No exact date has been given, but restrictions will start "in the coming weeks". | |
| Welsh Water has announced a hosepipe ban coming into force on 19 August, covering Pembrokeshire and a small part of Carmarthens. | |
| Southern Water introduced a hosepipe ban on 5 August for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. | Southern Water introduced a hosepipe ban on 5 August for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. |
| And South East Water is introducing a hosepipe and sprinkler ban on Friday for customers across Kent and Sussex. Rule-breakers could be hit with a £1,000 fine. | And South East Water is introducing a hosepipe and sprinkler ban on Friday for customers across Kent and Sussex. Rule-breakers could be hit with a £1,000 fine. |
| Will there be a hosepipe ban in my area? | Will there be a hosepipe ban in my area? |
| What damage do droughts cause? | What damage do droughts cause? |
| The effects of drought can include: | The effects of drought can include: |
| killing fish and creating water pollution | killing fish and creating water pollution |
| crop failure | crop failure |
| wildfires | wildfires |
| The National Farmers' Union is watching the situation closely. Berry farmers have already reported losing some of their crop. | The National Farmers' Union is watching the situation closely. Berry farmers have already reported losing some of their crop. |
| Vegetables such as potatoes - which are due to be harvested next month - are at particular risk due to their high-water content. | Vegetables such as potatoes - which are due to be harvested next month - are at particular risk due to their high-water content. |
| The effects could be felt into next year, as farmers are delaying planting crops such as rapeseed because the soil is too dry. | The effects could be felt into next year, as farmers are delaying planting crops such as rapeseed because the soil is too dry. |
| The price of barley and wheat increased four fold during the 2018 heatwave as crops failed | The price of barley and wheat increased four fold during the 2018 heatwave as crops failed |
| The recent record-breaking temperatures and very dry conditions led to multiple fires, with significant damage to homes and grasslands. | The recent record-breaking temperatures and very dry conditions led to multiple fires, with significant damage to homes and grasslands. |
| The Environment Agency oversees the management of the UK's aquatic life, and will move fish to other rivers should water levels drop too low - as was done in Yorkshire in July. | The Environment Agency oversees the management of the UK's aquatic life, and will move fish to other rivers should water levels drop too low - as was done in Yorkshire in July. |
| Outside of the UK, places such as northern Italy and Portugal declared drought emergencies earlier in the summer and put water restrictions in place. | Outside of the UK, places such as northern Italy and Portugal declared drought emergencies earlier in the summer and put water restrictions in place. |
| France, Spain and Portugal have also faced significant wildfires due to the dry conditions. | France, Spain and Portugal have also faced significant wildfires due to the dry conditions. |
| What happened in the 1976 and 2018 droughts? | What happened in the 1976 and 2018 droughts? |
| In 1976 and 2018 the UK experienced severe droughts lasting months. | In 1976 and 2018 the UK experienced severe droughts lasting months. |
| They were caused by a prolonged period of dry weather through the spring and then an unusually warm summer. | They were caused by a prolonged period of dry weather through the spring and then an unusually warm summer. |
| In 1976, the Drought Act created emergency powers to turn off domestic and industrial water supplies. | In 1976, the Drought Act created emergency powers to turn off domestic and industrial water supplies. |
| In 2018, the widespread drought led to crop failures, which raised food prices. Multiple water restrictions were put in place. | In 2018, the widespread drought led to crop failures, which raised food prices. Multiple water restrictions were put in place. |
| This year has seen similar conditions, with low rainfall and above average temperatures in July. | This year has seen similar conditions, with low rainfall and above average temperatures in July. |
| The conditions in August will be an important factor in whether the UK enters drought again. | The conditions in August will be an important factor in whether the UK enters drought again. |
| Could we see more droughts in the future? | Could we see more droughts in the future? |
| The National Infrastructure Commission - which provides advice to the government - recently said there could be more water shortages in the future, because of population growth and climate change. | The National Infrastructure Commission - which provides advice to the government - recently said there could be more water shortages in the future, because of population growth and climate change. |
| It called for changes to water consumption and reductions in water losses. | It called for changes to water consumption and reductions in water losses. |
| In the UK, up to three billion litres of water are lost each day - enough to support 20 million people. | In the UK, up to three billion litres of water are lost each day - enough to support 20 million people. |
| The government's 25-year Environment Plan aims to tackle these issues by investing in existing infrastructure and improving efficiency in homes and businesses. | The government's 25-year Environment Plan aims to tackle these issues by investing in existing infrastructure and improving efficiency in homes and businesses. |