A prolonged drought and soaring demand for water have led to hose bans affecting millions of customers across the UK.
Recent reports indicate that river flows in England have diminished significantly. According to the Environment Agency, external, a staggering 87% of the catchment areas are now classified as “below normal to abnormally low levels.”
In Wales, where only 5% of anticipated rainfall for July has actually occurred, Natural Resources Wales has declared certain regions in the north and south-east as experiencing “extended dry weather conditions,” marking the initial phase of its drought response plan.
National Farmers Union Vice President Paul Tompkins emphasized that farmers and producers are tirelessly working to accelerate the harvesting of early crops, irrigate fruits and vegetables, and ensure the health of livestock.
“Many regions, especially in the east and south, have faced significantly lower rainfall this spring and summer,” he stated, warning that this could lead to another challenging and expensive harvest due to extreme weather patterns projected for 2024 and 2025.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk