Hosepipe bans still remain in place by seven different water companies across England, despite the wettest April since records began in 1910! [The Guardian]
What is a drought?
A drought is basically a lack of water supply and can occur due to a lack of rainfall, a high demand for water or a combination of the both.
The Environment Agency has provided a map of the current drought situation but recommend that you contact your local water provider for further information.
So with all this rain, why are we officially still in a drought?
The CAW Blog Explains:
Even though many reservoirs have now been replenished, groundwater levels still remain very low. Groundwater is the water that’s held beneath the earth’s surface in porous rocks, which are collectively known as an aquifer (think of an aquifer as a vast lake underneath your feet). These aquifers feed our streams and rivers during dry spells, which in-turn feed our reservoirs, which we rely upon for our drinking water. We also access water directly from aquifers, taking water from wells or pumping it up to the surface on an industrial scale for agriculture.
So even though our rivers are full to the brim and even flooding in some places right now, the water that supplies them when there is no rain is still very low and it may still be several months until they are replenished.
What can I do to help save water?
The Environment Agency: What you can do
www.wateruseitwisely.com: 100 Ways to Conserve
Update: Further Reading
The Guardian: Draining of world’s aquifers feeds rising sea levels