Gerald Owenson reacts as he describes the drought condition affecting the headwaters of the River Thames just outside his home in Ashton Keynes August 8, 2022. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
While the entire French territory is affected by the drought, the situation is also deteriorating across the English Channel. A state of drought was declared across much of England on Friday August 12, the UK government said after an emergency meeting called by the Environment Agency.
The warning, which has not been issued since 2018, affects fourteen areas including London, the Thames Valley and much of southern, central and eastern England. If, as in France, measures can go as far as restricting water use, this is happening while the UK is experiencing its second heatwave of the summer, in a country unaccustomed to high temperatures.
Also read: Drought in France: What are the water restrictions in your department?
Driest July since 1976
However, Britain had what was, in some parts, the driest July on record and the driest first half since 1976. The situation is such that the source of the Thames has dried up and the river, which runs through London, cannot flow some 8 kilometers further downstream .
vegetation fires are increasing; In London parks and much of the country, the usual green lawns have given way to straw yellow and dusty soil due to the drought.
Walkers watch the dry and sunburnt grass of Greenwich Park, with the Queens House and skyscrapers of Canary Wharf in the background, in London August 9, 2022. FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP
An orange “extreme heat” alert has been in place since Thursday, and will run across most of southern England and part of Wales through Friday, according to Britain’s national weather service, the Met Office. While the all-time high of 40.3 degrees reached on July 20 should not be exceeded, temperatures of up to 36 degrees are expected by the end of the weekend.
The water supply is secured for the time being
“The water supply is safe,” the ministry and the environment agency said in a statement, while urging companies in the industry to “proceed with their preventive planning to protect basic services in the event of a dry autumn.”
“We are urging everyone to control water use during this exceptionally dry period,” said Environment Agency Chief Executive Harvey Bradshaw. “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 take additional action as necessary,” added Secretary of State for Water Steve Double.
The drought declared on Friday should therefore ensure that water companies implement their contingency plans to deal with the water shortage, including bans on irrigation, car washing and filling of swimming pools for individuals.
One of the operators of the water distribution network, Yorkshire Water, has announced the entry into force of these measures from August 26, as have several other companies. In Kent, on the south-east coast of the English Channel, such restrictions came into effect on Friday. They should apply in London in the coming weeks.
Low water at Baitings Reservoir, Ripponde, West Yorkshire on 12th August 2022 as record temperatures are witnessed across the UK. JON SUPER / AP