Drought Status Extended Across All of Wales as Heat and Dry Weather Deepen Environmental Strain
Exceptionally low rainfall, depleted rivers and falling groundwater have prompted a nationwide drought declaration, although household and business water supplies are not currently under threat.
Natural Resources Wales has extended drought status across the whole of Wales as sustained heat, very low rainfall and deteriorating environmental conditions tighten their grip on the country.
The decision, announced on Thursday, follows last week’s declaration of drought in north Wales and the Upper Severn catchment.
It marks the third change in drought status in as many weeks, reflecting the speed at which conditions have worsened during an exceptionally warm and dry period.
Wales had received only 8% of its long-term average July rainfall by 27 July, placing the country on course for its driest July since records began 190 years ago.
Recent rain has offered only limited, short-lived relief, temporarily damping soils and reducing fire risk in some locations.
River levels remain exceptionally low across much of Wales, while groundwater is continuing to fall and is below the expected level for the time of year at several monitoring sites.
The declaration covers catchments including the Wye, Usk, Valleys and Vale of Glamorgan, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, Swansea and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Teifi and North Ceredigion.
Natural Resources Wales said its teams were receiving increasing reports of damage to the environment and pressure on land management.
The effects include drying riverbeds, fish in distress, isolated fish deaths, algal blooms, mounting stress on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and a continuing risk of wildfires.
Farmers have reported reduced grass growth, harm to crops and growing concern over water supplies for livestock.
The regulator has also warned that dry conditions are placing additional pressure on wildlife, fisheries, river health and groundwater reserves.
The declaration does not mean that water supplies to homes and businesses are currently at risk.
Water companies operate separate drought plans and use their own thresholds for restrictions, although a temporary use ban remains in force in Mid and South Ceredigion.
Natural Resources Wales will increase monitoring, inspections and incident-response work, while existing controls on water abstraction and river-regulation schemes continue to operate.
The agency expects dry weather to remain a risk in the coming weeks, with the possibility of further hot periods through the rest of the summer.
The decision, announced on Thursday, follows last week’s declaration of drought in north Wales and the Upper Severn catchment.
It marks the third change in drought status in as many weeks, reflecting the speed at which conditions have worsened during an exceptionally warm and dry period.
Wales had received only 8% of its long-term average July rainfall by 27 July, placing the country on course for its driest July since records began 190 years ago.
Recent rain has offered only limited, short-lived relief, temporarily damping soils and reducing fire risk in some locations.
River levels remain exceptionally low across much of Wales, while groundwater is continuing to fall and is below the expected level for the time of year at several monitoring sites.
The declaration covers catchments including the Wye, Usk, Valleys and Vale of Glamorgan, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, Swansea and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Teifi and North Ceredigion.
Natural Resources Wales said its teams were receiving increasing reports of damage to the environment and pressure on land management.
The effects include drying riverbeds, fish in distress, isolated fish deaths, algal blooms, mounting stress on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and a continuing risk of wildfires.
Farmers have reported reduced grass growth, harm to crops and growing concern over water supplies for livestock.
The regulator has also warned that dry conditions are placing additional pressure on wildlife, fisheries, river health and groundwater reserves.
The declaration does not mean that water supplies to homes and businesses are currently at risk.
Water companies operate separate drought plans and use their own thresholds for restrictions, although a temporary use ban remains in force in Mid and South Ceredigion.
Natural Resources Wales will increase monitoring, inspections and incident-response work, while existing controls on water abstraction and river-regulation schemes continue to operate.
The agency expects dry weather to remain a risk in the coming weeks, with the possibility of further hot periods through the rest of the summer.
