Following prolonged dry weather, the Upper Severn valley which includes Newtown has officially moved into drought.

In a statement from National Resource Wales today, they confirmed that the Upper Severn Valley and Wye river catchments have officially moved into drought status due to the prolonged hot weather.

They said that the decision to move these areas from prolonged dry weather status to drought status was agreed following the meeting of the Wales Drought Liaison Group where the latest hydrological data and the wider implications of low river flows and groundwater levels was considered.

The change in an area’s status from prolonged dry weather status to drought is mainly a classification that indicates the severity of the situation rather than requiring different action from people, other than to use water wisely.

During droughts, water companies can also take measures to reduce demand and conserve supplies where they have areas of concern, such as the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water hosepipe ban currently in force in Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire.  People are urged to continue to follow the advice of their local water company and to contact their local authority should they have concerns around private water supplies.

Natalie Hall, Sustainable Water Manager for NRW, said:

“The prolonged period of dry and hot weather has seen our natural environment placed under extreme pressure

“With little in the way of significant rainfall in the forecast, and with the impact the ongoing situation is having on the very ecosystems we all depend on, we have taken the decision to move the South East of Wales and parts of Mid Wales into drought status from today.

“With South West Wales already in drought, we’re keeping a close eye on the situation in North Wales and the rest of Mid Wales. We remain in regular contact with water companies, local authorities and other partners regarding any emerging impacts on the environment, agriculture, and water supplies right across Wales, and will not hesitate to take any further action as needed.”