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Where has a drought been declared in England, and what does it mean? Where has a drought been declared, and what does it mean?
(3 days later)
Yorkshire has become the latest area in England to be declared a drought zone. South-west Wales has become the latest part of the UK in which a drought has been declared.
According to the Environment Agency, the region recorded below long-term average rainfall for the fifth month in a row in July. It follows an unusually dry period and hot summer in many areas.
It says "essential supplies of water are safe", but water companies in the affected areas can now introduce further restrictions on water use. Where are the drought areas?
Where are the drought zones? Along with a large part of South-west Wales, nine areas of England are in drought:
The Environment Agency (EA) says nine areas of England are now in drought:
Devon and CornwallDevon and Cornwall
East AngliaEast Anglia
Herts and North LondonHerts and North London
Kent and South LondonKent and South London
LincolnshireLincolnshire
Northamptonshire and East MidlandsNorthamptonshire and East Midlands
Solent and South DownsSolent and South Downs
ThamesThames
YorkshireYorkshire
The West Midlands could also be declared a drought area in the near future. The Environment Agency (EA) says the West Midlands could also be declared a drought area in the near future.
Separately, Northern Ireland Water has asked the UK government to put Drought Order measures in place to block water in the reservoirs in Spelga and Altnahinch from running into local rivers. It also wants to take more water from the well at Blacksprings near Cookstown. Separately, Northern Ireland Water has asked the UK government to put drought order measures in place.
The Wales Drought Liaison group is also looking at the effect of the dry weather. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has temporarily banned farmers in parts of Fife from using water from the River Eden on their fields.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency temporarily banned farmers in parts of Fife from using water from the River Eden on their fields.
Drought declared across large parts of EnglandDrought declared across large parts of England
Scottish agency issues water scarcity warningScottish agency issues water scarcity warning
What is a drought?What is a drought?
A drought relates to a lack of water, but there are different types. For example, there can be agricultural droughts where there isn't enough water to grow particular crops. The Environment Agency decides whether to declare a drought after speaking with water companies, government officials and groups including famers' representatives.
The Environment Agency decides whether to declare a drought after consultation with water companies, government officials and groups including famers' representatives. It looks at data including rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and the dryness of soils.
It says the latest drought announcements were based on data including rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and the dryness of soils.
The EA's latest water situation report shows some river levels are the lowest ever recorded.The EA's latest water situation report shows some river levels are the lowest ever recorded.
What happens when a drought is declared?What happens when a drought is declared?
Declaring a drought in a specific area does not oblige water companies to restrict water use, Declaring a drought in a specific area does not oblige water companies to restrict water use.
However, it does allow them to put into operation pre-arranged drought plans, which may include temporary use bans on hosepipes and lawn sprinklers. However, it means they put into operation pre-arranged drought plans, which may include temporary use bans on things like hosepipes and lawn sprinklers.
Other possible options include:Other possible options include:
taking more water than usual from riverstaking more water than usual from rivers
using a desalination plant in London which could make water from the River Thames drinkable using desalination plants, such as the one in London
cutting non-essential use of water beyond hosepipe banscutting non-essential use of water beyond hosepipe bans
The EA is also urging water companies to act to reduce leakage from pipes as quickly as possible.The EA is also urging water companies to act to reduce leakage from pipes as quickly as possible.
What are water companies doing to tackle leaks?What are water companies doing to tackle leaks?
Why drought can lead to dangerous floodingWhy drought can lead to dangerous flooding
Why are there droughts in Britain this year?Why are there droughts in Britain this year?
In the first three months of the year, England's rainfall was down 26% while in Wales it was down 22%.In the first three months of the year, England's rainfall was down 26% while in Wales it was down 22%.
This meant that even before the summer started, that average river flows were "below normal" or "exceptionally low". This meant that even before the summer had started, average river flows were "below normal" or "exceptionally low".
July saw temperature records broken multiple times while rainfall was down 76%. In July, rainfall was a quarter of the normal level.
These conditions have been made worse by the overconsumption of water. More than 28% of underground water sources are overused, the government says. Overuse of water has made the situation worse. The government says over a quarter of the UK's underground water sources have too much water taken from them.
Driest July in England since 1935 - Met OfficeDriest July in England since 1935 - Met Office
What problems do droughts cause?What problems do droughts cause?
The effects of drought can include:The effects of drought can include:
killing fish and creating water pollution water polluted and fish killed
crop failurecrop failure
wildfireswildfires
The National Farmers' Union is watching the situation closely. Berry farmers have already reported losing some of their crop. Berry farmers have reported losing some of their crop.
Vegetables such as potatoes are at particular risk due to their high-water content. Vegetables such as potatoes are at particular risk because of their high-water content.
The effects could be felt into next year, as farmers delay planting crops such as rapeseed because the soil is too dry. Farmers are delay planting crops for next year such as rapeseed because of the dry soil.
Sheep and lambs are suffering from undernourishment.
The price of barley and wheat increased four fold during the 2018 heatwave as crops failedThe price of barley and wheat increased four fold during the 2018 heatwave as crops failed
There have also been multiple fires, with significant damage to homes and grasslands. There have been multiple fires, with significant damage to homes and grasslands.
Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Smith of the London Fire Brigade said: "Last year, in the first week of August, we attended 42 grassland fires in London. This year, for the first week in August, we've attended 340. So, an eightfold increase." London Fire Brigade dealt with 340 grassland fires in the first week of August - eight times as many as they had to deal with in the same week last year.
The Met Office is warning there is an "exceptional" risk of fires spreading. Some shops have removed disposable barbecues from shelves. Because of the high risk of wildfires, some shops have removed disposable barbecues from shelves.
The Environment Agency also oversees the management of the UK's aquatic life, and is moving fish from the River Mole in Surrey to deeper and cooler pools because rivers levels have dropped so low. It did the same in Yorkshire in July. In Surrey and Yorkshire, the Environment Agency has had to move fish from rivers which are drying up to and deeper and cooler waters.
What happened in the 1976 and 2018 droughts?What happened in the 1976 and 2018 droughts?
In 1976 and 2018 the UK had severe droughts lasting months, caused by a prolonged period of dry weather through the spring, and then an unusually warm summer. In 1976 and 2018 the UK had severe droughts lasting months, caused by a dry springs and very hot summers.
In 1976, the Drought Act created emergency powers to turn off domestic and industrial water supplies. The government got emergency powers under the 176 Drought Act 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 drought led to crop failures, which raised food prices. Multiple water restrictions were imposed.
Could we see more droughts in the future?Could we see more droughts in the future?
Outside of the UK, places such as northern Italy and Portugal declared drought emergencies earlier in the summer and put water restrictions in place. The National Infrastructure Commission - which advises the UK government - says there could be more droughts in future because of population growth and climate change.
France, Spain and Portugal have also faced significant wildfires due to the dry conditions. It has called for people to use less water and for water companies to let less of it leak away.
The National Infrastructure Commission - which provides advice to the UK government - recently said there could be more water shortages in the future, because of population growth and climate change. It's thought up to three billion litres of water are lost in the UK every day.
It called for changes to water consumption and reductions in water losses.
In the UK, it's thought up to three billion litres of water are lost each day.
The government's 25-year Environment Plan aims to tackle these issues by investing in existing infrastructure and improving efficiency in homes and businesses.