New figures from the UK Environment Agency show that one in every five days saw flooding in 2012, but one in four days saw drought. Some river levels fluctuated between their highest and lowest levels within the space of four months. Photo: PA

By Roger Harrabin, Environment analyst
3 March 2013 (BBC) – Britain must become more resilient to both drought and flooding, Environment Agency chairman Chris Smith has said. New figures from the agency show that one in every five days saw flooding in 2012, but one in four days saw drought. Rivers such as the Tyne, Ouse, and Tone fell to their lowest and rose to their highest flows since records began, within a four-month period of the year. Lord Smith said urgent action was vital to help “prepare and adapt” many aspects of Britain for such extremes. Meteorologists fear that extremes of weather may increase as global temperatures slowly rise. Met Office analysis has suggested that the UK could experience a severe short-term drought, similar to the drought experienced in 1976, once a decade. With the population of the water-stressed south-east of England projected to grow by almost a quarter by 2035, Lord Smith argued that the number of smaller reservoirs needed to be increased immediately and that new ways of transferring water from areas where it is plentiful to areas where it is scarce must be established. Lord Smith, whose agency covers England and Wales, insisted the reservoirs would be needed not just by farmers, but also by commercial turf growers, golf clubs, sport stadiums, and race courses. There are currently about 1,700 small-scale storage reservoirs across England and Wales, supplying 30% of total irrigation needs. He also said more homes would need to be protected from flooding. Lord Smith said: “The extremes of weather that we saw last year highlight the urgent need to plan for a changing climate. “In 2012 we saw environmental damage caused by rivers with significantly reduced flows, hosepipe bans affecting millions and farmers and businesses left unable to take water from rivers. “But we also saw the wettest year on record in England, with around 8,000 homes flooded. Interestingly 2007, which saw some of the most severe flooding in recent memory, also started the year with hosepipe bans. “More of this extreme weather will exacerbate many of the problems that we already deal with including flooding and water scarcity, so taking action today to prepare and adapt homes, businesses, agricultural practices and infrastructure is vital.” [more]

UK must adapt for weather extremes, says Environment Agency