British authorities on Tuesday July 26 called on the public to restrict water consumption after a historic heat wave and one of the driest starts to the year on record in the United Kingdom, dismissing in the state to impose restrictions.
The Environment Agency brought together government officials, water companies and environmental groups to discuss measures to conserve resources.
Many fires
"
Although the extremely high temperatures of last week are now behind us and there are currently no plans to restrict essential water use, we can all do our part by reducing water consumption. unnecessary water
,” Harvey Bradshaw, director of the environmental agency, was quoted in a statement as saying.
He pointed out that the level of the rivers was currently "
exceptionally low
".
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The United Kingdom recorded its historic heat record on July 19, with 40.3°C recorded in Coningsby, a village in the northeast of England.
The country has seen many fires since and the lawns of London's parks, known for their greenery, display a yellow-orange color.
More generally, the whole winter and spring were exceptionally dry.
Temperature records
According to the Met Office, for the period between November and July, England and Wales had experienced drier weather than this year only once, in 1976. For the moment, the state drought, synonymous with restrictions in water consumption, has not been declared at the national level but some local authorities have taken measures of this type.
But the Environment Agency has warned that the next few weeks will still be dry, prompting it to launch the preliminary stages of its drought plan.
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She estimates that due to global warming, some rivers could contain 50% to 80% less water than they currently do by 2050. Second heat wave episode in barely a month on the continent, the heat wave which has in mid-July over western Europe, from Portugal to the United Kingdom, swept away many temperature records.
This multiplication of heat waves is a direct consequence of the climate crisis according to scientists, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing in intensity, duration and frequency.