The National Drought Group has moved to weekly meetings as drought conditions continue to intensify amid extreme weather, despite the recent rainfall.
The move marks a further step change in the government’s response to the continued threat posed by wildfires and drought and follows the COBR meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The expert group - which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – met yesterday as part of the heightened response to help safeguard people, livelihoods, and our environment.
They focused on the current drought and weather situation, actions each sector is taking and will continue to take over the coming months.
Last week, a £65 million package was announced to help farmers while significant work also continues on climate adaptation, including increased flood funding and nine new reservoirs.
Rural Communities Minister, Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, said:
“These have been some of the driest conditions in decades, and l have seen the impact it is having on communities, and I know the real pressure on farmers and the environment.
“We have acted in lock-step with fire services, local authorities and across government to provide support and protect people and nature.
“Drought conditions are worsening and yet we now face the risk of flash flooding. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, this government is working to adapt to our changing climate - including through our work with the National Drought Group and building nine new reservoirs to secure future supplies.”
This week has seen rainfall and cooler temperatures which will not make any significant impact on water resources. Almost three-quarters (71.3%) of England is in drought, and it will be later this year before any meaningful signs of recovery.
Drought is only over once rivers, reservoirs and groundwaters are completely replenished. This can take months of significant and sustained rainfall and the impacts on wildlife can last for years.
There is also currently a risk of surface water flooding, which can arise from heavy rain running off the hard ground rather than being absorbed by the soil.
Environment Agency Chief Executive, Philip Duffy, chaired the National Drought Group and said:
“This summer has been extremely challenging for farmers and for wildlife, and the rain we have seen this week is desperately needed.
“This current rainfall isn’t enough to change the overall drought picture, and it is possible to have simultaneous drought and flood as heavy rain falls on compacted soils.
“We are monitoring the flood risks, while also working with industry, agriculture, and the government on the ongoing drought response. “
The Environment Agency is particularly concerned at the impact the drought is having on the River Severn. It has applied for a Drought Order to Defra to reduce the amount of water companies can abstract from the river.
Southern Water has applied for two Drought Orders. The first is to maintain normal abstraction rates from the River Test even during low flows and the second is for a non-essential use ban. These are both under consideration by Defra.
The driest July in 190 years, a dry start to August, and five widespread heatwaves have resulted in rapidly diminishing river and reservoir levels over the summer.
The weather has also had a marked impact on soil moisture, which is essential for the recharging of groundwaters and vital for agriculture. There is always a delay of a couple of months for soils to respond to any rainfall.
Dr Katie Facer-Childs, senior hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), said that after an exceptionally hot and dry summer, it will take several months for river flows and reservoirs to get back to normal. If the autumn is wetter than normal, river flows may recover by December, but current forecasts suggest this is unlikely and river flows will therefore generally remain low into the new year, especially in the south east.
A dry winter could leave parts of the UK vulnerable to drought again next year.
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