Rain brings some water resource respite

Recent rain has brought some relief to drought-hit areas.

Yorkshire Water said at the beginning of last week that its reservoir stocks had increased to 45.6% – up 14.8% over the preceding seven days – after heavy rainfall across the region. The rain also recharged groundwater and the region’s rivers. Dave Kaye, director of water services at Yorkshire Water, said: “The recharge of the rivers means we can enact our drought orders and permits to allow the reservoir's maximum recovery.” Storage levels remain well below the 69.6% average for this time of year.

Meanwhile Southern Water has paused its drought order application for the River Test following recent rainfall. It explained that the order would have allowed continued abstraction from the Test if river levels fell below current limits for abstraction, but that levels are now high enough to pause the process.

However, more generally drought remains hugely challenging after the hot, dry spring and summer. Reports suggested Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex, for instance, has only six weeks worth of supply left.