[Nigel Bolton]

I am sure the real effects will start to show once uptake by fauna really kicks in.

Here in the west, we have had a drizzly cushion to hide the effects throug the winter. However, the outlook still appears very dry, and coupled with the growing season starting, the sun now has enough power to suck up the moisture. What we really do not need this Spring, is a strong, anticyclonic, low dew-point easterly.

N.

[Andy Mayhew]

Well, we're currently 6cm above the normal minimum (summer) level, 138cm below the normal maximum (winter/spring) - and 500cm below the 2007 flood level. No-one can recall seeing the river so low at these time of year before.


River Avon at Evesham
Last updated 09:00 on 09/03/2012


Summary
The river level at Evesham is 0.52 metres.

This measurement was recorded at 09:00 on 09/03/2012.

The typical river level range for this location is between 0.46 metres and 1.90 metres.

The highest river level recorded at this location is 5.52 metres and the river level reached 5.52 metres on 21/07/2007.


Current level: 0.52m

[John Robert Mellor]

Village, on 04 March 2012 - 08:54, said:

Drought? What drought?

I see you still offer the 'belief' that you live in a place that is ALWAYS reported by you to buck the trend of ALL other areas nearby.......but as we know the reality is the opposite.

I've recorded only 100mm for the past 6 months.....very dry by any one standards and another week of no prospect of any real rain threat

[Howard Kirby]

Andy Mayhew, on 09 March 2012 - 16:13, said:

Well, we're currently 6cm above the normal minimum (summer) level, 138cm below the normal maximum (winter/spring) - and 500cm below the 2007 flood level. No-one can recall seeing the river so low at these time of year before.

Similar here Andy, Teme is just 46cm deep.

[Nigel Bolton]

The Exe is still flowing quite swiftly, and there is more water in the channel than there was at this time last year, thanks to very low evaporation rates, almost persistent drizzle and no screaming easterlies during the past few months.

Canal level is where it should be, last year some naughty farmers (allegedly) abstracted water from the canal, such that the horse drawn barge (as seen on the front of the Countryfile Calender 2012) almsot had to cease operating through fear of grounding the barge on the bottom of the canal.

Further uphill, soil is now very workable.

N.

[akkan]

Andy Mayhew, on 09 March 2012 - 16:13, said:

Well, we're currently 6cm above the normal minimum (summer) level, 138cm below the normal maximum (winter/spring) - and 500cm below the 2007 flood level. No-one can recall seeing the river so low at these time of year before.

Similar here for the Evenlode.

I can't get a link to work for the text below, which is from the Oxford Mail 5 March


River Cherwell drying up in drought
The River Cherwell has become almost entirely dependent on sewage plants for water because of the drought sweeping the south of England.

And the upper parts of the River Ray, which rises from springs in the East Cotswolds, have already dried up.

Last night the Environment Agency (EA) confirmed reports that the Cherwell, which runs through North Oxfordshire to flow into the Thames in Oxford, was relying on “man-made” water to stop it from drying up. The news comes as the agency prepares to publish a ‘water prospects’ report which is expected to warn of a water supply crisis following two years of exceptionally low rainfall.

It is also expected to warn of the dire environmental consequences of the drought on wildlife.

Both little grebe and brown trout, which are particularly sensitive to water quality, are said to be under threat.

The agency also confirmed the Kennett in Wiltshire, the Wandle in south London, and the Ouse and Nene in East Anglia were dependent on man-made water but refused to release a further statement.

So called man-made water, which is heavily treated sewage works water, has to meet agency standards before it is released into rivers.

But its chemical make-up is significantly different to natural river water.

[Dave W]

The largest reservoir around these parts , Ardingly is at just 45% currently..

http://www.southeast...rvoirardingly:0

Weir Wood is at 42% having managed to gain just 7% over the winter months. The situation is others is generally better though.

[ChaserUK]

I have recorded 57.7mm so far this year - not very much really. Average by this time of the year should be 255mm! 22% of normal rainfall thus far.

This post has been edited by ChaserUK: 11 March 2012 - 13:10

[Nigel Bolton]

Imagine at this time that Alex Salmond and his henchmen must be rubbing their hands with glee. Whilst England and Wales become increasingly droughtipherous, Scotland has had, and probably will have, an overabundance of precipitation relative to its population. I can imagine the extorsionate costs he would charge England and Wales for water following devolution, if there are further shortages - lets face it, man can just get by without oil, but to survive, he must have water.

It is also interesting to wonder now, what percentage of water in the Thames flowing through London, has passed through the alimentary canal of a human being. Or would that be taking the piss.

N.

[Andy Mayhew]

Nigel Bolton, on 11 March 2012 - 14:44, said:

Imagine at this time that Alex Salmond and his henchmen must be rubbing their hands with glee. Whilst England and Wales become increasingly droughtipherous, Scotland has had, and probably will have, an overabundance of precipitation relative to its population. I can imagine the extorsionate costs he would charge England and Wales for water following devolution, if there are further shortages - lets face it, man can just get by without oil, but to survive, he must have water.

Until he notices that the other side of the Southern Uplands lies one of the biggest reservoirs in Europe England doesn't need water from Scotland - we just need a way of moving it from Kielder to the SE. Which obviously is cheaper and easier.

[BUTTERFLY]

"I am sure the real effects will start to show once uptake by fauna really kicks in."

I presume you mean by flora, i.e. by growing plants as the season progresses - or am I missing something, e.g is it because of thirsty animals drinking water from the reservoirs?

[Strider]

I've been in the warmest place for the two warmest days of the year so far

Quote

Watnall was the warmest place tod with 18.6C just shy of the 18.7C set at Coleshill on Feb 23rd, the warmest day of 2012. ST”

[P.K.]

Well I think we all knew this was coming.

Quote

Water companies across southern and eastern England are to introduce hosepipe bans amid drought conditions.Seven firms say they will impose water restrictions after two unusually dry winters left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers below normal levels.

Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East are to enforce restrictions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17340844

[Bluebreezer54]

P.K., on 12 March 2012 - 12:44, said:

Well I think we all knew this was coming.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17340844

Just out of interest PK what are your rainfall recordings for Watford thus far this year ? Sadly my AWS has proved to be unreliable in this respect.

[Dave K]

Southern Water imposing hosepipe ban from 5th April

Quote

[
A HOSEPIPE ban will be put in place by Southern Water on April 5, affecting the majority of Sussex residents.Southern Water is one of seven utility companies that have announced restrictions, with the banning order stopping residents from washing cars and watering gardens.The country has experienced the driest 12 months since 1976 and the South East was declared officially in drought in late February. Bewl Water reservoir, which serves Kent and Sussex is just 42 per cent full, compared to its average of 88 per cent.

http://www.wscountyt...e-ban-1-3615690

[Howard Kirby]

Latest EA report:

http://publications....312BWDT-E-E.pdf

[P.K.]

Bluebreezer54, on 12 March 2012 - 15:29, said:

Just out of interest PK what are your rainfall recordings for Watford thus far this year ? Sadly my AWS has proved to be unreliable in this respect.

Not much.

Jan 49.8mm
Feb 22.8mm
March so far 22.0mm.

[diddy12345]

it wil be interesting here in north herts.
we get our water from underground aquifiers NOT reserviours as reported on the news.

[Uskys]

From the bbc

extract:
At a drought summit last month calls were made for better interconnectivity between water companies.

On Monday seven English water companies announced hosepipe bans from 5 April.

The companies said the water restrictions followed two unusually dry winters which have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers below normal levels.

In June 2011 London Mayor Boris Johnson raised the idea of moving water supplies from Wales and Scotland to areas of shortage in the south and east of England.

Last month The Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) said it wanted changes in approach to water management, including improved interconnectivity between water companies.

At the time the Welsh government said it had not been approached by the UK government for water to help ease the drought.

But it added that the people of Wales should receive proper value for "this vital resource".

However Mr Annett told BBC Wales: "Certainly from an engineering point of view it's probably possible, but the cost is truly prohibitive."

'Expensive'

Mr Annett said the idea had been last considered seriously in 2006.

"In 2006 the estimate was it was 10 times more expensive than many of the other options and the environmental impact is truly enormous," he said.

"I would dearly like to be able to sell water to somebody else, make a big fat profit and pass that back to our customers in the form of lower bills.

"But water is a very heavy product. The cost rises very, very sharply once you start moving it."

Mr Annett said any large-scale transfer from Wales to other parts of the UK would involve lots of pumping.

"We all know what's happened to energy costs, so I suspect those companies and those regions that are short of water, will find other solutions to the current problem," he said.

In Wales water levels in most reservoirs and rivers are almost at full capacity.

Some reservoirs already supply the city of Birmingham and parts of Cheshire and Merseyside.

Alun Attwood, water resources manager of Environment Agency Wales, said the idea of whether there was enough water in Wales to support a national water grid, or large-scale transfers across the border, was something that needed to be considered in much more detail.

Mr Attwood said: "Our recent forecast suggests that because of the limited water available in Wales - and already some rivers are at their sustainable limit in terms of how much water can be taken from them without affecting the environment - it means that there might not be enough water to provide surplus water, or further water to England."