Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

English households urged to use water wisely after record dry spell

England and parts of Wales are severely parched following months of record low rainfall and unprecedented temperatures in recent weeks.

English households urged to use water wisely after record dry spell

People in England were urged Tuesday to use water "wisely" to protect supplies and the environment after the Met Office said the previous eight months had been among the driest on record.

The advice, from the Environment Agency, came after it convened a "national drought group" comprising senior decision-makers from the agency, government, water companies, and other interested parties to discuss the current conditions.


England and parts of Wales are severely parched following months of record low rainfall and unprecedented temperatures in recent weeks.

A punishing heatwave that swept western Europe last week pushed temperatures in Britain over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time ever.

The participants in Tuesday's meeting "agreed actions to protect water resources and the environment in the UK in the weeks ahead," the Environment Agency said.

"There are currently no plans for restrictions on essential water use," said Harvey Bradshaw, its executive director for the environment.

But, noting that English rivers were "exceptionally low", he asked households to reduce "unnecessary water consumption".

Earlier, the Met Office, the UK's meteorological authority, said its statistics for November to July for England and Wales showed it was the driest period apart from a record spell in 1976.

Most of England has moved into "prolonged dry weather" status, the Environment Agency said, meaning it is now taking precautionary actions to mitigate impacts "as hydrological conditions deteriorate".

These include enhancing its monitoring and protection of water resources, alongside the water companies.

Nowhere in England is currently considered to be "in drought" and most water companies are maintaining good reservoir storage for summer demand, the agency noted.

But further measures which could be required include temporary use bans -- more commonly known as hosepipe bans -- which would be decided by individual water companies serving different areas.

"Water companies have detailed plans in place to manage water resources for customers and the environment, and are doing everything they can," said Stuart Colville, director of policy at Water UK, which represents the industry.

"As we continue to see extremely high demand, we are urging everyone to carefully consider the amount they are using given the unprecedented conditions."

(AFP)

More For You

Little Britain

Little Britain resurfaces on TikTok, sparking a fresh wave of outrage and nostalgia

Youtube

Why is Gen-Z laughing at ‘Little Britain’? A closer look at the show’s most offensive jokes

More than two decades after Little Britain first aired, a new audience is discovering the controversial sketch show but not on BBC or Netflix. Instead, Gen-Z has resurrected it on TikTok, where short clips featuring outrageous characters and catchphrases have racked up millions of views. The twist? Many of these viral clips are the very ones that got the show pulled from streaming platforms in 2020.

Created by Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Little Britain was a defining comedy of the 2000s. It won awards, ran across multiple seasons, and even spawned a spin-off, Come Fly With Me. But as societal standards around race, sexuality, and disability evolved, the show came under fire for jokes that many now see as not just outdated but outright offensive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahsoka

Ahsoka season 1 featuring Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, set the stage for an epic journey into the Star Wars universe

Star Wars

Hayden Christensen confirms return as Anakin Skywalker in 'Ahsoka' season 2

After much speculation, Hayden Christensen has confirmed he’s returning as Anakin Skywalker in the second season of Ahsoka. The actor made the announcement during the Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo, sharing his enthusiasm about revisiting a version of Anakin that fans haven’t fully explored in live-action, the Clone Wars-era Jedi, before his fall to the dark side.

Christensen said that bringing this version of Anakin to life has long been something he and Star Wars creator George Lucas had hoped to explore on screen. The new season, which starts filming next week, will give fans a deeper look at that chapter of the character's life, though details about his exact role remain under wraps.

Keep ReadingShow less
pubs-england-iStock

Previous VE Day anniversaries, royal events and sporting occasions such as the Euro 2024 final have also seen similar extensions. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Pubs in England and Wales to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

PUBS and bars in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 01:00 BST on Thursday 8 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the government has confirmed.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said venues that usually close at 23:00 will be able to continue serving for two extra hours.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kesari Chapter 2

Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday headline Kesari Chapter 2, a historical drama revisiting the aftermath of Jallianwala Bagh

Bookmyshow

'Kesari Chapter 2' opens to mixed reviews as Akshay Kumar takes on colonial injustice in court

Released on April 18, Kesari Chapter 2 steps into theatres with a heavy subject on its shoulders: the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the courtroom fight that followed. Headlined by Akshay Kumar, alongside R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday, the film has drawn mixed reactions from viewers, with some calling it powerful and others labelling it sluggish.

Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and backed by Dharma Productions, the film moves away from the battlefield narrative of its 2019 predecessor. Instead, it follows the legal efforts of C. Sankaran Nair, played by Akshay Kumar, who challenged the British Empire after the 1919 tragedy. R. Madhavan plays opposing counsel Neville McKinley, while Ananya Panday surprises many with a restrained, serious performance as Dilreet Gill.

Keep ReadingShow less
colin farrell

Farrell has spoken publicly about his son's condition on various occasions

Getty

Angelman syndrome drives Colin Farrell to seek long-term care solutions for his son

Actor Colin Farrell and his former partner, Kim Bordenave, have decided to place their 21-year-old son, James, who has Angelman syndrome, into long-term care.

Angelman syndrome is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and results in developmental delays, lack of speech, movement and balance issues, and seizures. It is usually diagnosed in early childhood and is caused by problems with the UBE3A gene on chromosome 15.

Keep ReadingShow less