The amazing reservoir pictures that show we really ARE facing a drought: Water levels at just 40% when they should be full

  • Bewl Water has dropped to such a low level that
    bosses at Southern Water have applied for an emergency drought permit

  • Water
    levels in reservoirs, rivers and streams across the country are
    dropping as Britain faces worst drought for more than 30 years

By
Rachel Rickard Straus

Last updated at 7:42 AM on 18th February 2012

These shocking pictures show the extent of Britain’s looming drought as one of the largest reservoirs in southern England lies less than half full.

Bewl Water, which supplies the whole of Kent and Sussex, has been drained to 40 per cent of its usual 31 billion litre volume after the dry winter, which has blighted the UK.

Britain is suffering its worst drought for more than 30 years, with a growing likelihood that families will face water restrictions.

Drying up: Bewl Water Reservoir has drained to 40 per cent of its usual volume (pictured here on December 7 2011, when water levels had already dropped to their current low level)

Drying up: Bewl Water Reservoir has drained to 40 per cent of its usual volume (pictured here on December 7 2011, when water levels had already dropped to their current low level)

At its normal level: Bewl Water Reservoir five years earlier in December 2006, when it was 80 per cent full

At its normal level: Bewl Water Reservoir five years earlier in December 2006, when it was 80 per cent full

The reservoir, which is the largest open body of water in the South East, has dropped to such a low level that bosses at Southern Water have applied for an emergency drought permit.

This would allow the water company to drain additional water from the nearby River Medway to replenish the Bewl.

The measures could help avoid hosepipe bans and water restrictions this summer.

The dry winter follows a balmy autumn in 2010, which was the second warmest on record.

Resources could be stretched further this year if the dry spell continues into spring, especially in the South East, where the Environment Agency says the risk of drought is now the highest in the country.

Parched: The pictures taken at Bewl Water today show the impact of the drought on its water levels

Parched: The pictures taken at Bewl Water today show the impact of the drought on its water levels

Dry earth: Rocks, pebbles and shingles that normally lie at the bottom of the reservoir are currently exposed as water levels have dropped dramatically

Dry earth: Rocks, pebbles and shingles that normally lie at the bottom of the reservoir are currently exposed as water levels have dropped dramatically

Meyrick Gough, Water Strategy Manager for Southern Water, said the application is a precautionary measure, which would conserve water in the reservoir and help to secure supplies.

‘We have applied for this permit now because taking water in winter is less likely to have any impact on the environment,’ he said.

‘We are licensed to take a certain amount of water from the River Medway to put into Bewl.

‘If the permit is granted, the terms of our licence would temporarily change allowing us to take more water from the river if we need to.’

Drained: If the reservoir stays at its current low level, Southern Water will take water from the River Medway to replenish it

Drained: If the reservoir stays at its current low level, Southern Water will take water from the River Medway to replenish it

How it should look: Bewl Water Reservoir looking full in 2006

How it should look: Bewl Water Reservoir looking full in 2006

Reservoirs at Ardingly in West Sussex and Draycott near Birmingham are also low and several rivers and streams across the country have already completely dried up following the ‘highly exceptional’ lack of rain, according to the Environment Agency. Volunteers have been drafted to move fish to alternative waters.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has called a crisis meeting with water companies, farmers and wildlife groups next week to help tackle the drought.

Conditions are almost as bad as the drought of 1976, which saw rivers run dry, standpipes in the street and farmland ruined, the Environment Agency warned yesterday.

Thames Water said hosepipe bans were ‘likely’ in the next few months and has urged its 8.8million customers to spend less time in the shower and to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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The comments below have not been moderated.

Dry countries don’t have these problems? Make the reservoirs larger?……….
errr Where to start? Dryer European countries have well known severe water problems with a very gloomy outlook and making reservoirs larger doesn’t alter the amount of water going into them!
So we’re left with one readers suggestion of population control
Gotta love you DM types; what a crazy bunch!

Massive and disgraceful payouts were routinely pocketed by the water companies and there’s been a lack of investment over many years , no proper and regularly ENFORCED plans for repairs and renewals. Now the ongoing supply worries are affected by a huge and ever-increasing demand for water and, in many areas, the water itself is still not being metered. Nothing goes on forever and in the south east of the country it is clear that demand is far outstripping supply. But, no one is going to use less water in baths or showers or for car washing and garden watering – until they realise that every drop has to be accounted for. When you then choose to use a lot of water, you pay a lot more and face concerns about drought restrictions. With water metered if you use much less, you will have lower bills and have plenty available whenever required. Hardly rocket science !

This series of droughts has been obvious for years! As mentioned before, too many people using a resource we clearly don’t have. Years ago the process of building new reservoirs should have been started. So why aren’t the water companies doing this? They won’t until they have a statutory obligation to provide enough water, all year round, every year, for everyone. As long as all they have to do is to declare a drought and ration us, they will continue not to invest in new resources and instead to pay “profits” to their shareholders.

Just got back from tenerife. They hardly get rain and water is in abundance. Don’t fall for this it’s another way of increasing bills.

I see it’s come higher since December (going by the overflow system).

Interesting. I live on a desert island so we bring water from the sea and process it through desalination plants. When I left the UK, it was an island! Would it really be so hard to use natural resources and stop moaning?

So, Tony and Gordon should probably not let all those people in then should they.

There are 93 million people living in the UK, not 63 million as the govt would like us to beleive, all using water.
The french and germans knew the customer potential when the took over our utillities. We need 50% more water storage but as usual nothing is being done.

Why don’t the water authorities take the opportunity enlarge the reservoirs when they are nearly dry. Get digging them deeper!

No mention of the fact that the Environment Agency, Water Companies and Local Authorities neglect to maintain the ditches and water courses and desilt ponds, lakes etc. All part of the incompetence we see, since hardly any one knows whose responsible. Just another scare monger story from the EA now that the floods have gone and climate change is seen for its exaggerated claims.

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