NRW warn of the need to use our water resources wisely after dry summer

EXPERTS at Natural Resources Wales have said that the hot and dry summer has been a clear reminder of the need to prepare for more weather extremes and the need to use our water resources wisely. The warning comes as six areas in Wales are being moved from ‘drought’ to ‘drought recovery status’.

The environmental agency confirmed that recent rainfall has improved the situation in south west Wales and has triggered the threshold to move to a position of recovery.

Senior decision makers from NRW, Welsh Government, water companies and key representative groups met on Thursday to consider the latest hydrological and environmental data for Wales at the Drought Liaison Group meeting.

The south west saw 115% of its long-term average rainfall for September and October so far has received 77% of the long-term rainfall average as of October 25. River flows across the area have recovered to normal, or above normal for the time of year as a result.

This improved situation and change in status does not mean that we are out of the woods as localised concerns could remain. While groundwater is showing some signs of recovery, levels are still low and could take some time to replenish if Wales does not receive enough rainfall over the autumn and winter months.

This may bring localised impacts such as to private water supplies. NRW will continue to monitor the situation until it is confident the area has returned to normal status.

The areas moving to recovery are: North Ceredigion (Rheidol, Aeron, Ystwyth); Teifi; Pembrokeshire (Eastern and Western Cleddau); Carmarthen (Tywi and Taf); Swansea and Llanelli (Tawe and Loughor); Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend (Neath, Afan, Ogmore). The rest of Wales remains in drought.

The announcement comes in the week that Welsh Water lifted the Temporary Use Ban (more commonly known as a ‘hosepipe ban’) that has been in place in parts of Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire since August 19.