London, Aug 20 (EFE).- Five regions across northern and central England have been officially declared in drought, while six others remain under “prolonged dry weather” status, according to the United Kingdom government’s latest report covering the first half of August.
Authorities confirmed that Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, Yorkshire, along with the West and East Midlands, are facing critical water shortages.
Water reserves in England’s reservoirs have dropped to 65.6%, reflecting a 2.1% decline in just one week between Aug. 8 and 14.
Seven reservoirs are already below 50% capacity, with one falling to 30%, the Environment Agency said.
“The data shows an alarming downward trend that we must monitor closely,” a government spokesperson told EFE. “We are working with local authorities and water companies to mitigate the impact.”
The drought comes after a period of unusually high temperatures, which surpassed 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit), combined with scarce rainfall.
The country recorded only 2 millimeters of rain during the week of Aug. 12.
Restrictions and closures
On Aug. 11, the Canal & River Trust, which manages 2,000 miles (3,218 kilometers) of waterways and reservoirs in England and Wales, announced restrictions and temporary closures at several reservoirs.
Officials said these are the lowest levels recorded since monitoring began in 1998.
“The water situation is unprecedented in recent years,” said Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust.
“We have had to impose restrictions in order to protect essential water supplies and prevent further depletion,” Parry added.
Impact on agriculture
The British government said the drought has accelerated the harvest season, with some farmers already reporting reduced yields in cereal and pea crops.
Water scarcity is also expected to lower river flows in the coming weeks.
“We are seeing the earliest harvest in years, but unfortunately with lower productivity,” said John Mercer, a farmer in the West Midlands. “For many of us, this means higher costs and fewer crops to bring to market.”
To ease pressure on rivers, 254 water extractors in the Wye catchment area in western England have been asked to voluntarily reduce withdrawals.
Officials warned that mandatory restrictions could follow if conditions worsen.
The government urged the public to conserve water and support ongoing measures. “Every effort counts when we face such extreme conditions,” the Environment Agency stressed. EFE
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