The National Drought Group is warning that low rainfall this winter and spring is causing increasing concern for water resource availability, both in surface water and groundwater abstraction for the forthcoming irrigation season, particularly in the east of England.

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

The warning comes in a statement issued by Environment Agency Chief Executive Sir James Bevan following yesterday’s meeting of the NDG chaired by the EA chief to assess the latest water resource situation and actions being taken to reduce the risk of drought this summer.

Commenting on the current situation, the statement says that in the south and east, rainfall has not replenished groundwater stores, where levels are now declining.

Sir James said that while there is currently no threat to public water supply, the conditions are putting particular pressure on the environment and agriculture. “It will be some time before conditions can return to normal. Rainfall over the next few weeks will not be sufficient”, he added.

After the heatwave last year and a dry winter, this spring again saw lower than average rainfall. Low rainfall in April and May, particularly in the East of England, has seen some river flows decline to lower than normal for the time of year.

The water companies, which belong to the NDG, have confirmed they do not expect to need to bring in household water restrictions in the form of hosepipe bans this summer unless the next few months are exceptionally dry.

Actions the utilities are taking to ensure maintenance of supply over the coming months include:

• refilling reservoirs where possible
• taking action to find and reduce leaks
• making water transfers around their networks and between companies to meet demand and rest some sources
• taking forward a range of other work to increase the resilience of their networks, including bringing unused sources online and testing water standards.
• seeking to minimise the risk of unplanned outages and infrastructure failure by reviewing their assets and tackling known issues such as algal growth
• working with farmers locally to identify ways to sustain and share water supplies
• ensuring that all potential sites are application-ready for drought permits
• Environment Agency permits temporary flexible abstraction to allow rapid access to water

The Environment Agency itself has permitted temporary flexible abstraction to allow rapid access to water for abstractors within environmental limits. During 2018, it received 150 requests to flex of which two-thirds were agreed. In 2019, so far the EA has received 94 requests of which 90% have been approved.

The Agency has also extended the licence trading map from East Anglia to Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, East Midlands and West Midlands, to help abstractors look for opportunities to potentially access other abstractors’ unused water

The NDG has also noted growing concern over the potential impacts of prolonged dry weather on the environment and the cumulative effect from last year. Another dry summer could cause “significant and widespread impacts on the environment”, Sir James said.

The NDG has reaffirmed its core message to the public to use water wisely and believes there is enough water for all if water resources are managed properly.

The NDG will meet again in late July to assess the latest situation and take any further necessary measures.