30 Nov 2022

Plan now to avoid drought next summer, National Drought Group told The latest National Drought Group meeting reiterates expectation that water companies start planning now to manage potentially significant impacts next year. Water companies must start planning now to avoid potentially significant water supply and environmental impacts next summer, National Drought Group members were told […]

17 Nov 2022

Interesting piece in The Guardian The government has “no idea” how much water is being taken from rivers and groundwater, according to an Environment Agency (EA) whistleblower, as swathes of England remain in drought despite recent heavy rainfall. The whistleblower told the Guardian that the EA’s regulation of water abstraction points for farms, small businesses and private […]

20 Oct 2022

National Drought Group forecasts drought may remain beyond spring 2023.  Average rainfall levels over winter will still not be sufficient to avoid impending drought or drought conditions next year, the National Drought Group has forecast. At a meeting on 14 October, chaired by Environment Agency Chief Executive Sir James Bevan, members discussed projections for a […]

06 Oct 2022

Water scarcity has already proven to be a significant impact in eastern parts of Scotland this year as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reveals the extent of extreme, dry conditions experienced.     This summer in the east was the tenth driest in 100 years. Eight out of the last 12 months saw below […]

29 Sep 2022

National Drought Group states that careful and proactive management of water resources is needed throughout the winter to reduce the risk of drought next year.     Participants at the latest National Drought Group (NDG) meeting have set out further action needed now and over winter to mitigate the impacts of drought on water supplies, agriculture and […]

22 Sep 2022

Anglian Water has confirmed the proposed location for a new reservoir in Lincolnshire, south-east of Sleaford, about halfway between Grantham and Boston, the company has reported. The reservoir will supply enough water for around half a million homes, as well as protecting the environment by allowing Anglian to reduce the amount of water taken from […]

15 Sep 2022

There is a pressing need to prepare and adapt to the environmental and wider impacts of climate change, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said as it confirmed that all parts of Wales have now moved to drought status. With the South West, South East and parts of Mid Wales already in drought, the Wales Drought Liaison […]

25 Aug 2022

Environment Agency CEO calls for “complete gear change” in how water companies and water users think about how they use water.     The National Drought Group (NDG), made up of senior decision-makers from the Environment Agency, government, water companies and key representative groups met again (23 August) under the chairmanship of Sir James Bevan, […]