Are rivers in the South East at crisis point?
Several environmental and wildlife groups have sent a warning tot he Environment Agency that rivers in the South East are at their lowest levels and in crisis. They cite the River Cam to be extremely low and the water level in the River Beane, Hertfordshire, to have dropped by 55% since 2013.
In a letter to Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency, the campaigners, which include the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust and the Wild Trout Trust, recommended that water companies should be made to implement restrictions and temporary bans, after a long hot summer and dry winter leave water levels low.
An Environment Agency spokesperson stated that the problem is not critical so a hosepipe ban would be premature.
Generally, the Environment Agency expectes water companies to introduce hosepipe bans before applying for drought permits, which allow them to take water from the environment.
The EA spokesperson went on to say that there is enough water for all if resources are managed properly and we have agreed with water companies to sustain our efforts to ensure people and the environment continue to get the water they need.
