As a result, “severe drought” – in which a lack of water affects daily life and the environment in major ways, and can have extensive, lasting effects on farming, people, communities, the economy and nature – has been declared in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.
asserted
lack → affect → Cornwall
Water companies have been told to step up drought planning, amid efforts to protect public water supplies in the affected areas.
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companies → tell → areas
People are being urged to “use water wisely”, as ministers and officials said the level of drought was something not seen for decades, and was putting immense pressure on water supplies.
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level → urge → supplies
The Government said customers’ water supplies would be uninterrupted, but declaring a severe drought would ensure proactive steps were taken to safeguard resources before any disruption occurs.
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disruption → say → resources
Water companies have been told to conduct daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels and tougher water quality monitoring, and the Environment Agency will increase compliance checks on businesses that abstract water to check they are only taking permitted amounts.
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they → tell → amounts
The Environment Agency has also been told to prioritise protecting public water supplies in areas affected by severe drought where there are unavoidable trade-offs with environmental rules, to allow water companies to keep more water in depleted reservoirs.
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companies → tell → reservoirs
The declaration has been prompted by concerns about two major reservoirs that supply hundreds of thousands of customers, and which have seen water levels drop far below what would be expected at this time of year.
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what → prompt → year
Ardingly in West Sussex, which supplies about 95,000 properties served by South East Water in Haywards Heath, Uckfield and the surrounding areas, is at 19% capacity.
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which → supply → capacity
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The Environment Agency said it would expect the reservoirs to be at 75% capacity at this time of year.
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reservoirs → read → year
There are also concerns about several smaller reservoirs serving homes in Devon and Cornwall, the agency said.
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agency → be → Devon
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this Government is stepping up our support and planning.
“
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Government → say → support
We are working closely with water companies to protect public supplies in the areas affected, and I’d continue to urge everyone to think about how they can use water wisely over the coming weeks.
She added: “Our strengthened Water Bill is all about taking back public control of our water companies.
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Bill → work → companies
“We are at the start of a decade-long journey to a very different water system, including nine new major reservoirs to secure supplies.”
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We → include → supplies
Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said: “Record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have put our water resources under immense pressure.
“Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use.
“
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we → say → water
We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now.
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companies → change → weather
We expect them to follow their drought plans and take the steps needed to secure public water supplies.
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them → expect → supplies
“We are also asking everyone to use less water.
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We → ask → water
“That will leave more in our rivers and the environment, helping farmers and protecting wildlife and nature.”
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That → leave → wildlife
The Environment Agency has granted South East Water’s drought permit application to reduce the amount of water Ardingly reservoir releases each day to the River Ouse by three million litres.
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reservoir → grant → litres
Separately, it has granted a drought permit application by South West Water to reduce the amount of water sent to the River Exe each day by nine million litres.
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it → grant → litres
The announcement follows the latest meeting of the national drought group of Government, regulators, water companies, the Met Office, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal and River Trust, anglers and water and conservation experts.
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announcement → follow → Government
Last week a drought declaration was made for Yorkshire, with all of England now in drought except for the North West and North East which remain in prolonged dry weather status.
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which → make → status
The Aporia
