At today’s drought summit, organised by Defra chief Caroline Spelman following what has been the driest year on record for large parts of the UK, the Environment Agency presented an in depth analysis of the current drought situation and the subsequent effects on the environment.

The agency also negotiated a number of proposed actions, which will be implemented by the agency and water companies in dry regions to combat the effects of drought.

Water companies at high risk of drought have agreed to: 

• reduce water losses and increase leakage detection;
• engage and communicate with their customers to help them understand the current position and encourage them to use water wisely;
• co-ordinate temporary restrictions on water use, such as hosepipe bans, from an early stage in the spring where necessary; and
• talk to the Environment Agency about drought permits as early as possible. Companies need to factor in that demand measures should be in place before a company applies for a drought permit during the spring and summer.

The Environment Agency said its national and local drought teams will continue to lead on managing and monitoring drought and its effects locally. They will: 

• encourage farmers to set up water abstractor groups and consider on-farm storage;
• keep farmers up to date about the local risk of drought restrictions next spring and summer to try and avoid irrigation bans;
• issue warnings and advice on the prospects for spray irrigation.
• prepare more detailed action plans in consultation with others for 2012 if the dry weather continues
• carry out environmental monitoring studies to determine the long-term impacts on fisheries and biodiversity and share the results with interested groups and communities;
• determine water company drought permits (and support government on drought orders) where required;
• begin to look ahead to 2013 at the possible implications and actions of a third dry winter in drought affected areas; and
• check abstractors are complying with conditions on their abstraction licences and take enforcement action against those who don’t.

In early March the Environment Agency will publish its latest drought prospects report, which sets out the areas that are likely to be affected by drought in spring and summer 2012. The report aims to help water companies, farmers and other water abstractors plan for the year ahead, and sets out clear actions that these groups should take to help manage the country’s valuable water supplies. 

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