Tunbridge Wells in an area of drought 'high risk'

By Rebecca_H | Monday, February 20, 2012, 18:50

Tunbridge Wells has been included in a wide area of the UK that is officially now at severe risk of drought.

Bewl Resevoir

Today, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman hosted a drought summit as parts of England struggle with groundwater levels lower than in 1976.

She invited water companies, farmers and wildlife groups to discuss the situation in south-east England, East Anglia and the East Midlands.

Ms Spelman said beforehand the meeting was to work out "preventative measures" that could be taken now.

Bewl Water, in nearby Lamberhurst, which supplies water to much of the south-east is now only at 41% capacity.

A spokesman Kieran Nelson said: "This year the recharge period started later, it's taking longer and it's going much more slowly. And that is a concern not just for reservoirs like this one but for the boreholes that we rely on as well.

"But we need months of torrential rain, to be quite honest. It might not be a popular thing to say but lots and lots of drizzle persistently over weeks is what we're going to need to get things back to normal."

Southern Water has applied for a drought permit to enable it to restock Bewl. If the Environment Agency grants the permit it would also allow the company to take more water from the River Medway.

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Comments

Don't forget the hosepipe ban starts today :(

How will it affect you? Will you be taking heed? Do you think a £1000 fine is too much or the right deterrent?

By Rebecca_H at 10:45 on 05/04/12
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Water companies across southern and eastern England are bringing in hosepipe bans in the face of drought conditions.

A total of seven firms are to introduce water restrictions as a result of two unusually dry winters which have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers well below normal levels.

It was confirmed today that Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East are all to bring in restrictions on water use in the South East.

Southern Water said it was bringing in a ban on hosepipes and sprinklers for domestic customers in Kent and Sussex from April 5 - the first time since 2005/2006.

Bewl reservoir which supplies Southern Water customers is only two-fifths full, and the company was given a drought permit last month to help refill it.

By Rebecca_H at 17:07 on 12/03/12
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