Londoners urged to save water as ministers declare a drought

 
Drought warning: Londoners are being urged to save water
10 April 2012
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Millions of people were today urged to use less water as London and the South-East were officially declared in drought.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman asked householders to make savings, such as taking shorter showers, following the driest two-year period in the capital since 1920-21.

She called a "water summit" today to discuss the scale of the crisis.

Afterwards, Richard Aylard, sustainability director for Thames Water, said: "River and groundwater levels are already exceptionally low and it is impossible to predict how much longer this already very long dry spell will last.

"So we are preparing for the worst, while of course hoping for the best, and we really do now need everyone's full cooperation in saving water."
The Government and Thames Water urged millions of people to take steps to save water including:

Taking shorter showers.

Turning the tap off when brushing their teeth.

Putting a bowl in the sink when washing dishes.

Fully loading washing machines as it uses less water than two half-loads.

Checking for leaks in taps and pipes. A dripping tap can waste more than 60 litres of water per week.

Ms Spelman made clear that hosepipe bans and other restrictions could be imposed this summer unless there is substantial rainfall.

Thames Water stressed that all its reservoirs are nearly full and leakages from its network of pipes are at their lowest but that many river flows were exceptionally low.

The Thames Valley and London have received below-average rainfall for 18 of the past 23 months, with 2010/11 the third driest two-year period since records began 128 years ago.

Trevor Bishop, head of water resources for the Environment Agency, said: "It's very unusual for London to be in a drought at this time of year." But he added that the capital was unlikely to see a return of standpipes.

Wildlife charity WWF accused the Government of failing to prepare properly. WWF's freshwater spokesperson, Rose Timlett, said: "This is a drought we've seen coming. Rivers such as the Kennet have been dry since September 2011."
Experts are predicting a drought this summer to rival that of 1976.

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