New Delhi: The government of the United Kingdoms (UK) has officially declared droughts in various parts of the country. The declaration was rolled out on Friday. This comes after the country is witnessing prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.
However, this declaration has not yet triggered an intervention on the level of the by London’s supreme authorities. This is currently on the level where the companies that are in the business of selling water need to gear up and manage their supplies.
Drought is declared what now?
- In the event of a drought, all water companies must have a strategy in place outlining the limits they may impose on their consumers.
- These proposals, which include temporary water use restrictions like hosepipe bans to lessen the demand for water, will be put into action by water corporations.
- They can also submit applications for drought orders and permits, which give them legal extra leeway in how they manage their water resources, including the ability to draw more water from aquifers, reservoirs, and rivers.
- Non-essential water use, such as swimming pools and commercial vehicle washes, may be subject to restrictions.
- Customers might be required to use standpipes or portable water tanks to access water.
- Farmers’ ability to use water for spray irrigation may be restricted.
- The Environment Agency has the authority to request that the government impose restrictions on water use in food processing and industrial manufacture that is having, or could have, a serious impact on the environment or the public water supply.
- If there is a risk of fire due to the dry conditions, Natural England, the government’s conservation advisory body, may limit entry to specific sites such as national nature reserves.
Drought has been declared in these regions
- Devon and Cornwall
- Solent and South Downs
- Kent and South London
- Herts and North London
- East Anglia
- Thames
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- East Midlands
