A DROUGHT has today been announced in Craven and across the whole of Yorkshire.

The county, which last suffered a drought in 2018, joins large parts of England which were brought to drought status by the Environment Agency on Friday, the same day that Yorkshire Water announced it would be imposing a hosepipe ban on August 26.

The Environment Agency said it had taken the step because of the recent, prolonged dry weather which had led to exceptionally low river flows and reservoir levels falling across much of England. High temperatures, including last week’s heatwave, have also continued to add additional pressures on the water environment and wildlife, it said.

The triggers used for Yorkshire include river flows, groundwater and reservoir levels, rainfall and the dryness of soils along with the impacts dry weather is having on abstractors - including farmers- and the environment.

Victoria Slingsby, environment planning and engagement manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said: “The high temperatures we are experiencing have exacerbated pressures on wildlife and our water environment in Yorkshire. These extreme weather conditions become more likely with climate change.

“We are experiencing some much-needed rain this week, but it will not be enough to correct weeks of dry weather, and it will take more prolonged rainfall to wet up soils and replenish rivers, reservoirs and groundwater levels.

“It’s important for everyone to manage the amount of water they are using in this exceptionally dry period.”