Many parts of England were officially declared drought-hit on Friday, amid prolonged heatwave conditions, which means restrictions on domestic and commercial water use for residents in those areas. Parts of southwest, southern, and central England, as well as all of eastern England, are affected.
Before announcing the drought status, the National Drought Group, comprised of senior decision-makers from the Environment Agency, government, water companies, and key representative groups, met earlier on Friday. "We are currently experiencing a second heatwave following what has been the driest July on record for parts of the country," UK Water Minister Steve Double said.
"We are better prepared than ever before for periods of dry weather," he said, adding that "we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including the effects on farmers and the environment, and take additional action as needed."
Residents and businesses in affected areas have been urged to be "very mindful" of resource pressures and to use water wisely.
Many parts of the UK are experiencing record high temperatures for this time of year, with little rain, and an amber extreme heat warning is in effect until Tuesday. Temperatures in southern England reached 35 degrees Celsius, making it hotter than the Caribbean.
The ongoing dry conditions follow the driest July on record for some areas, and have depleted rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers in conjunction with last month's record-breaking heatwave.
According to the UK Environment Agency, England has experienced five consecutive months of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures. As a result, soils have dried up, causing problems for agriculture, water supplies, and wildlife, as well as increasing the risk of wildfires.
Droughts were previously declared in 2018, with a more severe one in 2011. Climate scientists have warned that more of these extreme weather events will occur in the future as the burning of fossil fuels, humanity's primary source of energy, produces carbon dioxide, which traps the heat of the sun in the atmosphere, driving up temperatures.
