The drought is here to stay – here’s everything you need to know about it

A drought has been declared across much of England after the driest summer in half a century.

Rainfall levels in recent weeks have been at record lows which, coupled with searing heat, has depleted water levels at the country’s reservoirs and lakes.

Millions are already living under restrictions on water usage and more could soon follow.

Here’s everything you need to know about the drought and what it means for you.

What does drought status mean?

We’ve all heard of the word drought but in this context, it has an official meaning too.

A drought can be declared by the authorities when they are concerned the environment, water supplies and the farming industry are being impacted by rainfall shortage.

They aren’t uncommon but this is the first in a decade. Between 1975 and 2012, there were five official droughts.

There isn’t a clear definition but officials are looking for criteria like stress on natural water sources, plus the knock on effects for agriculture, wildlife and natural habitats, and falling levels of water stored for people to drink and use in their daily lives. 

Where in England is experiencing drought?

For now, the official drought is confined to eight parts of the country: Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and South London, Herts and North London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and East Midlands.

Who decides if there is a drought?

A body known as the National Drought Group is convened to take action when rainfall levels fall.

It is made up of representatives of important environmental bodies like the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency (EA), Natural England, the farmers’ union, the water companies and other relevant organisations.

It met earlier this summer to officially confirm the country had moved to the yellow alert level (‘prolonged dry weather’) and met again today to move the country to amber (‘drought’).

The various water companies which manage the network in different parts of the country have to maintain plans for what they’ll do in an emergency.

The most obvious measures are hosepipe bans, which have already been imposed on some places.

Further restrictions on commercial and domestic use would be next and firms can apply for permits to physically move water around the country to hard hit areas where necessary.

Water rationing for homes is still a long way off and the Environment Agency has stressed levels of drinking water are still at safe levels.

Can the drought get worse and what would happen then?

Rain is forecast for next week but that won’t signal the end of the drought.

Experts say some restrictions could be needed into the next year while water levels get back to normal.

If things do get much worse, the National Drought Group can move the country up to a red alert level, defined as ‘severe drought stage’.

Before things went back to normal from here, the country would be placed back into an amber ‘recovering drought stage’, where water companies could still impose some measures.

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