Get ready for worst drought in 75 years, water firms told

The Guardian ^ | February 24th 2006 | John Vidal

[Winniesboy]

Water companies in south-east England have been told that if they delay introducing hosepipe bans and other water-saving measures households may get water for only a few hours a day and standpipes will have to be introduced as in the drought of 1976...."The rainfall from November until earlier this month was the lowest in 40 to 50 years [across England] and in the south-east there has been nothing as bad since the 1930s," said Terry Marsh, a senior hydrologist at the centre "The recent rain has been welcome, and ground water levels are now rising belatedly, but from a very low level. There are rivers where levels are still lower than in 1976."

[Winniesboy]

Thought I'd post this for the edification of those of our American friends still convinced that it always rains in England!

[Tulane]

IBWD (In before "We're Doooooomed!"

[jigsaw]

Doesn't the Queen reign all the time?

[neodad]

IBBF! (in before Bush's fault)

[mdmathis6]

Weren't they having the worst storms and flooding due to "global warming" just a few years ago?

[Born Conservative]

Global warming can cause floods and storms, as well as drought. In fact, global warming is the root cause of EVERY natural weather phenomenae...

[Chanticleer]

I completely sympathize. Water always seems to be a difficulty in Florida -- either too little or too much. Water restrictions are a pain, but not as bad as the prospect of losing beautiful old trees. Hope the dire predictions are wrong.

[cripplecreek]

You have water restrictions in Florida?

[mdmathis6]

"In fact, global warming is the root cause of EVERY natural weather phenomenae...."

Now we all know it is Carl Rove's evil weather control machine and Bush's fault for that!

[Max in Utah]

Doesn't the Queen reign all the time?

Only on her parade.

[Chanticleer]

Water restrictions? Yes. Varies county by county. Usually involves how often and what time of day you can water your lawn, wash your car, etc. No restrictions on indoor use ... yet.

[FreePaul]

One summer I was in England when the papers were talking about a drought. It hadn't rained in eight days. Fortunately it started raining and they escaped the dust bowl.

[jigsaw]

LOL! Now I understand! Thanks!

[vimto]

Yeah well I live in Wales and we got lots of the stuff here....mind you it has been a dry winter and the reservoirs are low. But we're all right jack!

Kind regards

[Dustbunny]

Drought is always bad, hope it ends soon. I was one of the people that thought it always rained in England.

[devane617]

Hey, come down to Texas, and Arizona. We have had little to NO rain for the past year. Never seen it so dry as it is now...

[C210N]

In fact, global warming is the root cause of EVERY natural weather phenomenae...

Well, lets be realistic. Not EVERY natural weather phonomenae.

But, ALL the other ones are Bush's fault.

[Mike Darancette]

"The rainfall from November until earlier this month was the lowest in 40 to 50 years

Thy must not keep very good records.

[Vaduz]

No watering of lawn and autos must save water for BEEEEEER.

[Winniesboy]

I live in the South West, and the western side of the country (including Wales) usually has much higher rainfall than the East; but we also have had two exceptionally dry winters. Our water is rather differently sourced, since in the hillier West most comes from upland river capture and reservoirs, whereas the East is much more dependent on groundwater extraction; and the greater population density of the South East in particular doesn't help.

This is not so much global warming (or even cooling) as the British meteorologist's old friend the North Atlantic Oscillation, a long-observed periodic phenomenon during which the prevailing moist Atlantic westerlies are replaced, sometimes for as long as a year, by drier continental easterlies; with the more normal pattern always flipping back eventually.