Scorching summer sparks long-term water worries for south Warwickshire
CRITICALLY low water levels and soaring summer temperatures have sparked serious concern across the country about the long-term health of our waterways, the investment needed to provide water security and the dropping levels in reservoirs.
While no drought or hosepipe ban is in place for Stratford district, residents and town businesses have expressed alarm at the dwindling water levels on the River Avon and its potential impact on trade and wildlife.
A few days of rain will make many forget there was ever a problem. But this is a long-term issue as those past few weeks, some of the driest on record, are likely to return and a massive investment is now needed to avert a bone-dry Britain next year and the following years.
Environment Agency figures show the total amount of water in England’s reservoirs is at its lowest level in more than two decades and while the hot weather has temporarily eased, it won’t resolve the precarious depletion of water levels the country is now facing.
The agency says the drought in parts of the UK could last into next year following the driest summer in 50 years and that it would take “weeks’ worth of rain” to replenish water sources.
Fraser Pithie, a retired senior executive from the water sector, said: “My concern is what happens now over the next number of months, because if we don’t have the normal rainfall in autumn and winter, what happens next summer will make this year look like a vicarage tea party.
“We need to take all the steps we can to conserve water levels because the heat has been so severe and we are clearly not capturing the water we receive from floods and rainfall, which is why government agencies and water companies need to work together to create more storage facilities but this costs and it won’t be cheap. The last reservoir built was Carsington Water in Derbyshire in 1991.”
While thousands of visitors have flocked to Stratford to enjoy the long, hot summer on Bancroft Gardens, the Recreation Ground and the River Avon, some well-established businesses in town, which rely on the river, have had to re-think their day-to-day operations in response to the relentless heatwave.
Nick Birch of Avon Boating said: “We have – now and again – had to keep an eye on the river levels which can range from a depth of three to four feet and for our larger boats. These can carry 58 passengers and we’ve been discussing reducing the number we take on board so the boat is lighter, even though it’s the height of our season.
“The bottom of the river changes which means we slightly alter track on our journeys. A lot of rain would be good for water levels but only in the night, please.
“We will eke out the next three to four weeks of the holiday season, but it’s been a difficult year to predict because when it’s roasting hot people don’t want to go out or they’d rather be sitting under a tree. We still have a positive outlook for the rest of the summer though.”
Low water levels and extended periods of hot sun also present problems for the River Avon’s wildlife.
Martyn Edwards, owner of Stratford Fishing and Outdoors said: “Oxygen levels are critically low and I’ve never seen the river water levels so low. This means some fish are struggling for oxygen. We do need a good rainfall which will give a flush through of the river, but this has to happen over a longer period and not just one heavy shower.”
The Environment Agency added: “Periods of hot, dry weather will put additional pressure to the environment. With lower flows and water levels, combined with higher water temperatures, the environment is more vulnerable – including lower oxygen levels - and this could lead to distressed fish or even fish kills.
“We would like to ask those using rivers and lakes, such as anglers and boaters, to report if you see dead or distressed fish. During periods of warm, settled, dry weather, blue-green algae is a naturally occurring environmental phenomenon that becomes more likely.”
Severn Rivers Trust says it remains extremely concerned about the impact the drought conditions have had on the health of rivers.
Its chief executive officer, Joe Pimblett, said: “We’re all seeing the very obvious lack of waters in our rivers just now, but alongside that, and perhaps more alarming, is the rate of soil moisture our farm advisers are recording, in the upper reaches of the catchment, which is lower than anything we have recorded before. This suggests a long road to recovery.
“The ecology of our rivers is already under immense pressure from a variety of sources, notably; agricultural, sewage and plastic pollution. The current weather conditions are yet another strain on the system, which it can ill afford. It really is death by a thousand blows.
“Droughts affect our rivers in a host of ways. Firstly, the low flows restrict the movement of aquatic wildlife, notably fish, constraining species to isolated stretches of river and pools, where competition for resources is high, leading to increased mortality.
“Additionally, as water levels reduce, and water becomes slower moving, the water temperature quickly rises - we’re seeing water temperatures of near 20 degrees in some areas. Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water, meaning certain species have difficulty obtaining enough oxygen to stay alive.
“If that weren’t enough, the final blow comes from an increased concentration of nutrients, as a consequence of our pollution, which can lead to algal blooms and further deoxygenation.”
He added: “As the climate changes, and our weather patterns continue to become more extreme, our rivers are going to need us like never before. Tackling climate emissions is paramount, however, alongside that, we need to act now and renaturalise our rivers, to improve their resilience to such weather events. We need to remove man-made barriers, reduce pollution, plant riverside trees and remove invasive species.”
At the start of August, Avon Navigation Trust issued a low river level alert for Stratford, advising river users to “stay in the navigation channel to avoid grounding and reduce speed in some sections between Stratford to Evesham.”
Farmers continue to monitor the drought in terms of crops, winter feed and the risk of field fires.
Georgie Hyde, NFU environment adviser, said: “The impacts of the prolonged spell of dry weather are hugely challenging for many farms across Warwickshire and it’s causing concern for all farming sectors, especially as we look ahead to the autumn.
“This highlights the urgent need for government and its agencies to better plan for and manage the nation’s water resources.
“This will help build resilience into the farming sector and provide investment opportunities for irrigation equipment and to build more on-farm reservoirs.
“Warwickshire has seen a serious lack of rainfall and some crops, like maize, are showing real signs of stress, and there are also big challenges for farmers needing to irrigate field vegetables and potatoes.
“The dry weather has also severely hampered grass growth which could hit feed supplies for the winter, adding additional costs to livestock farming businesses at a time when costs are continuing to increase significantly.
“While there are obvious challenges, we are pleased that Harvest 2022 is well under way and that the combines are rolling across Warwickshire and we are well ahead of schedule.”
Water levels remain critically low but water supplies to homes remain on tap.
A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “Our region has experienced the driest July in a century and we’re asking people to be mindful of their water use as small behavioural changes can add up to a big difference. We’d like to thank all our customers for their continued support as the warm and dry weather continues into the summer.”
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) have expressed their gratitude to the firefighters who have attended hundreds of incidents over an exceptionally hot summer.
Soaring temperatures and long periods of dry weather have led to an increase in fires, with firefighters often working for hours in the gruelling heat to get blazes under control. On top of this, the warmer weather has led to an increase in call-outs for wildfires and open water rescues.
This summer, climate experts believe, is a taste of what’s in store.
Met Office data shows the average temperature in the Midlands was 18.1C, up 1.6C on the monthly average. There were 200 hours of sunshine, nearly double the monthly median; and the 23.1mm of rainfall seen was only 35 per cent of what is normally seen during July in the region.
Protecting water looks like it’s going to become even more important.
