The Environment Agency is stepping up its response to tackle the mounting impacts of continued dry weather and coordinate action to maintain water supplies and manage the other risks associated with drought.

Following the driest June since 1925, with a rainfall total for England of only 15 mm, the Agency is actively monitoring the weather, water situation and the environment, analysing the prospects and sharing its analysis with others.

Members of the National Drought Group, chaired by the Environment Agency chief executive Sir James Bevan, met on Monday to discuss the operational approach to managing water supplies and review preparation for the pressures ahead.

The group, which consists of over 30 organisations including water companies, regulators and environmental groups, set out how they had stepped up activity on all fronts in responding to dry weather and preparing for drought. During the meeting, water companies explained how they were implementing activity set out in their drought plans and increasing efforts to reduce leakage.

Record-breaking temperatures and very low rainfall throughout May, June and much of July is taking its toll on the environment, with wildlife suffering as river levels drop. EA teams have responded to 44 significant environmental incidents since the end of June including moorland fires, algal blooms, dry boreholes, low river flows and fish rescues.

The lack of rain has led to a rapid decline in reservoir levels in the North West. The EA is preparing for drought in the region and United Utilities have announced a hosepipe ban affecting 7 million people from early August. The company have applied for 2 drought permits and 1 drought order across Cumbria, which the EA are now considering. The company is preparing a further 3 drought permits to be submitted before the end of July.

Dry weather is also affecting a number of sectors, notably agriculture with concerns about water supplies needed for irrigation and potentially lower yields. The EA is meeting with affected groups to provide practical advice about conserving water and planning for drought, should the dry weather continue.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) and farmers are working closely with the EA, Internal Drainage Boards, water companies and Defra to manage the situation and sustain farming production, including through water trading and abstraction restrictions that are now in place in some catchments

Further action the EA is taking includes:

• Working closely with water companies to ensure they are following drought plans and implementing actions in a timely way.
• Working with businesses, farmers and others who abstract water under licence from the EA to manage down demand and protect the environment, using its regulatory powers as necessary.
• Stepping up engagement to encourage the public and others to cut down on non-essential water use.
• Robust regulation including increasing the number of inspections for businesses abstracting water to ensure compliance with licences.
• Operating water transfers such as the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme to help maintain river flows for water supply and the environment.
• Moving its operations to higher alert status and moving staff to affected areas to deal with increasing demand for incident response and regulatory work.
• Frequent river monitoring and 50% increase in incident response for this time of year – mostly associated with extreme hot weather and prolonged dry conditions.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive Environment Agency said:

“The water that comes from the tap is taken from our rivers and reservoirs and the amount we use has a direct effect on people and the environment around us.

“As we prepare for drought in the North West and dry weather continues around the country, we have stepped up our response to minimise wastage and tackle the impacts of low river flows on wildlife.

“We all have a part to play to protect this precious resource. I expect water companies to step up their efforts to ensure supplies are well-managed and people at home should use water wisely.”

The Agency said that around the country, water companies have enough water to maintain supplies if resources are managed properly and if the public use water wisely. The companies are taking a range of measures to sustain supply, including water trading between companies and additional measures to keep farmers and other customers supplied with a particular focus on vulnerable customers.

However, the Agency warned that a dry end to the summer and dry autumn could see the risk of restrictions and further environmental impacts spread across the country.

The NDG has agreed to step up coordination between its members to maintain a common assessment of the situation and ensure the closest possible cooperation to address the current challenges – the Group will meet again on 29 August.