The National Drought Group is warning of growing concerns over the potential impacts of prolonged dry weather on the environment.

The NDG met on Thursday 25 July, chaired by Harvey Bradshaw, Executive Director of the Environment Agency, to assess the latest water resource situation and actions being taken to reduce the impact of drought conditions this summer.

A statement issued by the Group after the meeting said that some parts of England have experienced a lack of rain since winter 2016/2017 which is now causing impacts for agriculture and the environment. While June’s rainfall provided some relief after a very dry spring, it has not replenished low groundwater levels in east and south east England. It could be some time before the water resources situation returns to normal ranges, the statement says.

The group acknowledged the growing concern over the potential impacts of prolonged dry weather on the environment and the cumulative effect from last year. The NDG is urging water users to do all that is needed to sustain water supplies and ease pressure on the environment.

The NDG is warning continuing dry July and early August could mean a large number of abstraction licence controls which curtail the abstraction of water, will be in place in parts of England during the final weeks of the peak irrigation season finishing off crops such as potatoes and carrots.

Extension of the dry weather further into the year could cause difficulties for growers trying to lift crops and present another significant demand for water.

While the Environment Agency is continuing to balance farmers’ needs with those of wildlife and other water users, in parts of England, water supply concerns could affect the irrigation of crops this summer.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that it will sustain its enhanced activity to ensure water users and the environment get the water they need. This includes reviewing the groundwater and surface water position to consider if more water could be made available during peak demand via flexible abstraction and rapid trading - wherever this can be done without damaging the environment and ensuring lawful abstraction is maintained.

It will also look at continuing its enforcement activity to ensure abstractors comply with their licences to help minimise the impact on the environment and at operating compensatory pumping schemes to support low river flows and protect the environment.

Despite the lack of full recovery in the water resources position, most water companies have good reservoir storage for the remainder of this year, the statement says. Further to this water companies set out the actions they are taking including: promoting customer campaigns, leakage reduction and collaborative actions to facilitate access to water for others.

The NDG is advising the public that there is enough water for all if water is managed properly and not wasted and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that this happens. At present the average person in the UK uses 140 litres of water a day: long term water security will require everyone to reduce that figure to 100 litres of water a day, the NDG said.