After its wettest start to the year for nearly half a century, England was largely declared in a state of drought on Friday, hinting at further local restrictions on water use.
The measure, declared for the first time since 2018, affects large areas including London, where the green of the lawns has given way to a straw yellow, the Thames Valley and much of the south, center and east. east of England.
Announced after an emergency meeting convened by the environmental agency, it comes in the middle of a heat wave in the United Kingdom, the second of the summer, in a country unaccustomed to high temperatures.
According to scientists, these episodes will multiply, lengthen and intensify under the effect of global warming.
An orange “extreme heat” alert has been in effect since Thursday over most of southern England and part of Wales.
If the absolute record of 40.3°C reached on July 20 will not be equaled, temperatures of up to 35°C are expected on Friday, and even 36°C during the weekend.
These temperatures come after the driest July on record in some areas. England suffered its driest first half since 1976, with winter and spring failing to bring the usual rainfall.
“Water supplies are safe,” the ministry and environment agency said in a statement, adding that authorities are calling on water companies to “continue precautionary planning to protect critical supplies in the event of a disaster.” dry autumn.
The drought declared on Friday aims to ensure that water companies roll out their contingency plans to deal with the lack of water, including bans on watering, washing cars and filling swimming pools for the details.
One of the water distribution network operators, Yorkshire Waters, announced such a measure from August 26, joining several other companies in the south of the country.
Companies criticized
Some distribution companies are criticized for failing to meet their anti-leakage targets.
“Progress has been made in recent years, but there is still a long way to go,” sector regulator Ofwat said, urging water companies to “reduce leakage”, “improve their environmental performance and become more financially resilient. while presenting consumers with “affordable bills” and “helping them reduce their consumption”.
“It’s going to be difficult for us,” said Claire Connarty, 61, interviewed by AFP in a nursery in Kent (south-east), where restrictions on consumption came into force on Friday.
She shows herself to be upset against the water distribution companies: “They should move more, there are leaks everywhere but they want us to ration ourselves”, exclaims this administrative assistant, owner of many potted plants requiring a regular watering.
“These are things that happen,” comments, more understanding, Barry Martin, a 62-year-old retiree, who already collects water from the shower for his plants. The ban on watering the lawn does not bother him: “I did not try to save the grass, it will recover” when the rain returns, he philosophizes.
The situation is such that the source of the Thames is dry and the river that crosses London only begins to flow about eight kilometers further downstream, an unprecedented situation.
Water reservoirs, at 65% capacity, are at their lowest level since 1995.
Vegetation fires are increasing, to the point that some supermarket chains have stopped selling disposable barbecues, and authorities have urged caution near cliffs, which are more at risk of cracking in hot weather.
“We are better prepared than ever for periods of warm weather, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including the impact on farmers and the environment, and will take additional measures if necessary,” assured the secretary of State in charge of Water, Steve Double.