MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By Matthew Holehouse – “Some reservoirs, rivers and groundwater aquifers in the South East well below normal levels after two dry winters.

The state of drought in the region was declared after the Environment Department (Defra) convened a summit of water companies, farmers and wildlife groups today to discuss potential water shortages in England.

Following the summit, Thames Water warned that there was a high chance of water restrictions such as hosepipe bans this summer, unless there was significant rainfall or customers used less water.

Some rivers and groundwater levels are lower than during the drought of 1976.

The RSPB is warning that if the drought situation continues, it could spell potential disaster for wildlife.

Birds, mammals and bugs could be struggling to survive into the summer if the rain doesn’t fall in the next few weeks as valuable wetlands dry up.

Charlie Kitchin, RSPB Site Manager for the area said: ‘The breeding season of 2011 was not good at all for this nature reserve. Winter flooding is essential to attract the large numbers of wild swans and other wildfowl that the washes are renowned for and this winter has been the quietest for many years, for example our wigeon numbers are down from 20,000 to 3,000.'” Read more.

Take an ‘egg timer’ into the shower say water companies – “Residents are being sent waterproof ‘egg timers’ so they don’t linger in the shower, in attempt to preserve dwindling waters stocks by reducing consumption. Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, was forced to declare drought in the most populated area of Britain after two dry winters in a row left reservoirs dangerously low and fish dying in rivers. The Anglia region was already in drought, meaning more than half of the population of the UK faces hosepipe bans in a matter of weeks. There could even be restrictions in London – part of the South East region – where thousands of litres more water will be needed because of the Olympics.” Read more.