Weather’s been too dam fine!
Fears after flaming May and high demand hit supplies
THESE stark photographs show the latest reservoir drying out.
Howden Reservoir in Derbyshire normally holds 1.9 million gallons.
But the UK’s sunniest spring on record and unprecedented demand for water during the lockdown has seen reserves shrink.
Earlier this week sinking levels at Grassholme Reservoir in County Durham revealed an ancient packhorse bridge – normally deep underwater.
In Hertfordshire, Affinity Water said a storage reservoir had “almost run empty” due to exceptionally high demand.
However, there are currently no plans for hosepipe bans in the UK.
In many areas of the country soaring demand has seen taps run dry not because of a shortage of water but due to falling water pressure caused by excessive demand.
Bottled water was handed out by Severn Trent to vulnerable people around Wolverhampton at the weekend and tankers were brought to deliver on the streets.
And a bottle station was set up in Haslemere in Surrey earlier this week due to water shortages caused by low pressure.
Industry body Water UK says the average increase in demand is 20 per cent, rising to 40 per cent at peak times in the evening.
The body has urged customers not to water gardens during the evening peak – or risk low pressure affecting supplies.
It said that after a wet winter, including the wettest February on record, there are good supplies of water in many reservoirs.
While stressing they weren’t looking at any hosepipe bans, it did urge the public to use water sparingly and wisely.
Water UK chief Christine McGourty said: “It’s been a double whammy of the record sunny weather and more people at home in these unprecedented times.”
But there is hope on the horizon, with many parts of the country having their first rain for weeks yesterday – and rain spreading across the country this weekend.