Is the UK heading for a drought? If so, what does that mean and how can we prepare?

August 4, 2022 Comments Off on Is the UK heading for a drought? If so, what does that mean and how can we prepare? News 1

As recently reported by the BBC, we’re seeing the longest ongoing dry period since 1936. In the first three months of the year, England’s rainfall was down 26% and in Wales it was down 22%. As a result, the National Drought Group moved England into “Prolonged Dry Weather” status – the stage before a drought – at an emergency meeting. At the time of writing, water authorities have leapt into action with imminent hosepipe bans announced in Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

But what does this mean in everyday life? Well, the following activities are banned:

Watering a garden using a hosepipe 
Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe 
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe.

In a worsening drought situation, the next step is to restrict non-essential use through non-essential use bans. These apply to households and commercial customers/businesses. Drought orders to bring this ban into effect are granted by the Environment Secretary. Users must be able to show that they have taken all necessary steps to save water and protect the environment, i.e., recycling, before being given indemnity.

Activities that would usually be restricted are as follows:

Watering outdoor plants at a commercial premises such as a garden centre, fruit/veg growers, and producers
Filling or maintaining a non-domestic paddling pool or swimming pool
Filling or maintaining a pond
Operating any mechanical vehicle wash
Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or rolling stock /train.
Cleaning any commercial premises
Cleaning windows
Cleaning industrial equipment (plant)
Suppressing dust

Should the Drought order be enforced, that’s when the situation transforms dramatically. Industries that are likely to be severely affected are:

Car and Commercial Washes
Agriculture
Automotive
Food and Beverage production
Chemicals
Construction

Kirton offers a range of water recycling systems which will enable businesses to reuse water and continue to run during any drought order.

How do I invest for the future?

A longer-term solution which people often overlook is Rainwater Harvesting. We’re all sometimes guilty of complaining about the weather, particularly as the seasons change and rainfall invariably increases. There is however a positive upside to this occasional abundance of water… it’s free! We must recognise that this sustainable resource is readily accessible for onward integration into endless applications. Not making use of this asset represents a vast squandering of the potential savings which are available to operators and industries throughout the country who don’t always need mains quality water.

Take Agri-Food for example, a typical large broiler farm can consume millions of litres of water. Our rainwater equipment seamlessly provides sites with an automatic, multi-use water supply, subsequently reducing the farm’s dependency on the local mains water network, or costly and variable quality boreholes.

Pictured is the first of 2 recent RWH plants designed and manufactured for our industry partner. In this instance we’re collecting and treating the roof water fall to provide consistent, stable drinking water for high welfare poultry houses.