CAMBS: High levels of reservoir water despite dry spell
CAMBRIDGESHIRE has seen a record dry spell with farmers warning of reduced crop yields but reservoirs are still at 90 per cent capacity says Anglian Water.
No hosepipe bans and no restrictions on supplies will be enforced over the summer promised Anglian Water’s managing director Peter Simpson, even if the high temperatures and dry spell continues.
This is despite the fact less than 0.8mm of rain fell in Cambrideshire last month compared to an average 47mm of rain per month.
But farmers say the long dry spell is ruining crops with poor yields of wheat and barley expected.
In a letter to Huntingdonshire MP Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Simpson said the high levels of reservoir water were down to fast action over the winter fixing leaks.
Extra work crews and specialist technicians worked around the clock to fix leaks and pump extra water into the system.
Mr Simpson wrote: “This huge effort to deal with the effects of the cold winter has also played a big part in helping us cope with the very dry spring.
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“Together with careful collection and storage of the water available to us over the winter, it means I can tell customers our water supplies are secure for the year, even if high temperatures continue well into the summer.”
But he called on customers to help with water efficiency by using water meters. Currently 67 per cent of Anglian Water’s customers use a meter, and the aim is to reach 80 per cent by 2015.
Mr Simpson added: “No-one should think we are complacent. The reason we planned well for dry weather is because we live in the driest part of the UK with a third less rainfall than the rest of the country.
“Climate change and a fast growing population mean water will only become scarcer and future supplies will only be secure if customers help us.
“The fact that we supply the same amount of water today as we did in 1989, despite a 20 per cent increase in population, is down to our own determination, together with the active support of customers, to save water and keep supplies secure.
“Our experience so far this year shows just how essential this approach is.”
