PARTS OF Yorkshire have moved into official drought status after another dry month has left river levels and underground water supplies depleted.
Areas from Chesterfield in the south of Yorkshire to Scarborough in the east fall into the drought zone, with areas around Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull and Driffield also affected. But while the Rivers Don, Rother, Hull and Derwent are low or very low for the time of year, public water supplies are unlikely to be affected.
Some areas of Yorkshire have seen the driest 12 months since 1910, and with river levels continuing to fall, the Environment Agency is appealing to farmers and businesses that take water from rivers to look for ways to use water wisely, and share the resources that are available.
Trevor Bishop, head of water resources, said:
“South and east Yorkshire have moved into official drought status, reflecting the impact that this extremely dry period is having on the environment in the area.
“The Environment Agency must balance the water needs of people, farmers, businesses and the environment and we are working with businesses, farmers and water companies to plan ahead to meet the challenges of a continued drought.”
Earlier this month the Environment Agency warned that drought could spread to more areas of the country if dry weather continues, and urged water companies and farmers, as well as businesses and consumers, to take action to protect water supplies from a prolonged drought.
The Government also held a drought summit recently, after which the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman encouraged everyone to find ways to save water.