The Isle of Wight has officially entered drought status after the Environment Agency confirmed conditions have deteriorated from ‘prolonged dry weather’.
The declaration marks an escalation from the Environment Agency’s previous assessment earlier this month, when the Isle of Wight was placed into the first stage of drought – known as prolonged dry weather – as previously reported by Island Echo on 10th July.
The Environment Agency has now confirmed that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have moved into drought itself, alongside 6 other areas across England, as conditions continue to worsen.
Richard O’Callaghan, Environmental Manager for the Environment Agency’s Solent and South Downs area, has said:
“Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are in drought. Sussex remains in a state of prolonged dry weather.
“Environmental pressures have only grown in response to high water demand and low rainfall, with a drought order expected shortly for the River Test.
“Water companies are expected to follow their drought plans and we will continue to balance the need for water against the needs of the environment.”
The Environment Agency says the decision follows continued hot weather, exceptionally low rainfall, reduced river flows and sustained high demand for water. July has so far seen just 7% of its average rainfall across England, falling to as little as 1% in parts of southern England.
Residents are being urged to use water wisely, with simple measures such as taking shorter showers, turning off taps while brushing teeth and fixing leaking toilets helping to reduce demand.
And what about that ‘biblical’ amount of rain we had through the Winter. Where did all that water go..
if we had underground reservoirs as they are now doing in Europe it could have gone in there(but don’t worry there is a new reservoir going to be built in Hampshire somewhere and it will be ready in 10 years time!fandabby dozey, but Southern knows best and shareholders come first and foremost,sadly greedy shareholders you can’t drink money!;!!. .Southern have known for past forty years weather change was in the cards but no let’s stick our head a up our ar..s and pretend it’s not happening oh and the leak you have now fixed twice in Upton Road(calmative Clancy’s)is leaking again!so tad rich you telling us not to run water when there are 100’s of leaks reported and many not still happening!.and before Southern chatter on about their new plant which recycles sewage water.. no data has been found to even proves this works mind!but they do t care because the gov have handed them a whole raft of grants for everything,which means yours ,mine tax money being handed back to this useless company!.
Down the drains, into rivers out to sea into the ground and evaporated in the heat. Next question.
Make me so mad its bloody free water from the sky been on planet earth from the start so why don’t we collect it and store it don’t take it out on the people who pay the astronomical amounts for it, it’s the bastard water companies to blame No investment for decades more people more homes going up it’s just a piss take..and we are an island nation…surrounded by bloody water.
Down the drain, what a complete waste.
Water should be nationalised we pay enough in taxes take it out of that!!! Oh wait “ There’s no money” look at all the chuffing numpties in cabinet. All politicians are the same. Out to feather their own nests! Doesn’t matter who they are or what party they belong to. There sure will be another tax coming along soon! The problem with this country is the people in power have and always will justify their £100,000+ salary’s all they do for this is sit in an office or in Parliament. Talk a load of clap trap, blame everyone else for the state the country is in when is all of them that needs to pay up take a massive pay cut. The parliament costs £1.1 billion per annum.
never mind the £40 billion to be spend on Westminster over the next few years! Sorry people rant over
Sad to say ever since southern water went from ground source to river source because it’s cheaper we all new that worked in the water industry that this day would come, is it that odd to realise that if you have a dry spell river levels drop but back in the day if you had rain in the winter the ground water levels would keep you going in the summer? But no it’s much cheaper for water companies to just take it out of the rivers, you couldn’t make it up!
Yes Southern water filled their reservoirs for times like this did they ? Oh no they spent the money on shareholders calling it bonuses or dividends or allowances? Sack the lot of them !
So, now on the TV they’re requesting we take shorter showers and turn off the tap when brushing our teeth and the like. Save as much water as WE can. Yep, I get it, tottally. When though, is Southern Water going to do their bit???