UK Drought: South West, Midlands And Parts Of Yorkshire 'No Longer In Drought'

Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 11/05/2012 11:42 Updated: 11/05/2012 11:56

Uk Drought

South West England, the Midlands and parts of Yorkshire are no longer in drought following persistent and heavy rain in recent weeks, the Environment Agency said.

After the wettest April on record and heavy downpours across the country so far in May the agency was forced to review the areas currently declared in drought.

It said the weather had "significantly increased river and reservoir levels", reducing pressure on water supplies.

"These indicators have led the Environment Agency to remove the drought status for certain areas," it said in a statement - though it added that groundwater supplies remain low throughout the UK and several areas remain in drought.

"It is unlikely that water companies will now impose hosepipe bans in these areas over the summer," the EA went on.

"Parts of East Anglia and South East England remain in drought, with water company restrictions in place on public water use".

Dr Paul Leinster, Environment Agency Chief Executive, said: 'Water resources across England and Wales are kept constantly under review.

"The recent record rainfall has eased pressure on water resources in some parts of England, helping levels in rivers and reservoirs to recover and providing relief to farmers, gardeners and wildlife.

"The Environment Agency will continue to keep a close eye on the situation. Low groundwater levels remain a concern across many parts of England, with many still at a similar level to those in 1976 and unlikely to return to normal levels before the winter. A return to a long period of dry weather would increase the risk again."

The 19 areas that are no longer in drought are: South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Parts of Gloucestershire, Parts of Hampshire, most of Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire.

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South West England, the Midlands and parts of Yorkshire are no longer in drought following persistent and heavy rain in recent weeks, the Environment Agency said. After the wettest April on record ...
South West England, the Midlands and parts of Yorkshire are no longer in drought following persistent and heavy rain in recent weeks, the Environment Agency said. After the wettest April on record ...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
Abandon hope when you post on here
02:53 PM on 05/12/2012
And what did we do with all that spare water, what preparation dod we make to conserve any of it? We did nothing, we take water for granted, we scream when we have too much, we bleat when we have a shortage but no one from local councillors through to government do anything about it when we have a surplus.
12:02 PM on 05/12/2012
hallelujah!!! funny the water company didnt stick to the old "it's the wrong kind of rain" crap.
cantabria
my default position is wrong
11:43 AM on 05/13/2012
They tried for a long time, but at the end of the day persistant spring rain is the same as persistant winter rain.
majdf18148
I have nothing to declare but my curiosity
11:50 AM on 05/12/2012
I live in an area still under drought restrictions. Over the past month I have had to drain 2" of water from my fishpond on 5 separate occasions. Everywhere in our local woods where we normally walk is sodden, absolutely sodden. Water companies couldn't organise the proverbial in a brewery. It's a sham, a con, and an example of appalling management!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Fozwords
Abandon hope when you post on here
02:55 PM on 05/12/2012
Dead right mate, but the water company share holders and executives will still get all their bonuses
11:31 AM on 05/12/2012
lets do a quick survey here what is your water monthly rate state if it metered or not so here is the first

Location : west cornwall
Water Company : southwest water
monthly charge, unmetered £81.04
cantabria
my default position is wrong
11:44 AM on 05/13/2012
Hertfordshire, metred, about £30/month
11:24 AM on 05/12/2012
no wait! hosepipe ban back on again!.... got sun here this morning everything is drying up again....I think water levels are really low in my area, West cornwall...oh sorry my mistake its the atlantic ocean and the tides out...phew!
08:37 AM on 05/12/2012
it is about time the highways put in soakaways for the water from the roads and not direct it straight into the rivers it would keep the water tables higher !
cantabria
my default position is wrong
11:45 AM on 05/13/2012
So many ideas from people which are great. Just zero brainpower in the board rooms of water companies and in parliament, only greed.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Saint wright
Dyslexic old chippy
08:03 AM on 05/12/2012
e-petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33621
07:55 AM on 05/12/2012
Who caused all the panic in the first place? The day after we were told the West Midlands was officially in drought it started to rain and never stopped. Let's get back to dividing rods and whether the cows are lying down in a field or not!
02:01 PM on 05/12/2012
well if we are in a drought then i hope all the African nations will send us two pounds a week to help us out . lol
07:30 AM on 05/12/2012
lololololololololololololol
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Saint wright
Dyslexic old chippy
09:42 AM on 05/12/2012
is that the cameron lol or the other?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mirola
Read between the lines
10:31 PM on 05/11/2012
No draught where I am. I can almost swim in my garden, ground's unable to soak up all the rain for weeks.
07:30 PM on 05/11/2012
i live in essex and just finished my ark drought ,,,,, bollox
07:29 PM on 05/11/2012
Shock headline.

Rain ends drought.

Who'da thought it?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Saint wright
Dyslexic old chippy
07:13 PM on 05/11/2012
Fed up with the Foreign owned Water Companies ripping us off and giving service that is not fit for purpose, then sign my HMGoverment e-petition online.

e-petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33621

Re Nationalise Water Companies.

The Water Companies have had 23 years since privatisation to put their house in order and deliver clean and plentiful drinking water and to cease discharging untreated sewage to our rivers and sea’s.
They have failed in both respects despite the consumer contributing over £100 Billion through punishing increases in their water bills.

Water Companies also waste over 726 million gallons of water every day of the year & many beaches are still affected by untreated sewage. They are mainly interested in maximising their profits for the benefit of mainly foreign shareholders and large salaries and bonuses for Directors and Managers.

Therefore in the interest of our strategic water supply and health & safety the Water Industry needs to be re nationalised as a matter of urgency.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
06:06 PM on 05/11/2012
Does this mean Africa wont be sending them £2.00 per month?
04:56 PM on 05/11/2012
government must order the water companies to desalinate /purify sea water to replenish low supplies then we would not have a problem
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mirola
Read between the lines
10:33 PM on 05/11/2012
If you want to pay for it they will.