Despite widespread downpours at the beginning of this month, the Environment Agency reported that Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and west Norfolk are still in drought. And while river flows and reservoir levels have improved, groundwater in East Anglia is still exceptionally low. Meanwhile, without prolonged rainfall, the report states, the Midlands, east and south-east England remain vulnerable to drought this spring and summer. Among the water companies, Anglian already has two drought permits allowing for extra abstraction from the River Nene and South East Water was granted a three-month drought order on 21 December to refill its Ardingly Reservoir. The agency's report suggests that more applications are expected in the South East and that public water restrictions cannot be ruled out.
展开▼
