Hosepipe ban brewing amid ‘acute risk of water shortages’, warn climate, farming and infrastructure chiefs – By Victoria Seabrook (Sky News) / Mar 14, 2023
With recent dry weather due to persist until at least May, two different government advisory bodies have warned water shortages may be in the pipeline. Carrot and lettuce harvests are at risk, say farmers, while the national infrastructure chief says some areas may face a hosepipe ban.
The UK should be prepared for a second summer of water shortages and some hosepipe bans, with a dry spring due to follow a dry winter, national advisers have warned.
The government’s climate aides have warned of an “acute risk of water shortages” if dry weather persists well into May as forecast, while farmers say crops like carrots and lettuce could run short.
“Following this dry winter, if this summer is again dry (which is expected more often due to climate change) then risks of water shortages could be even more acute,” Richard Millar, head of adaptation at the Climate Change Committee, told Sky News.
In spite of the recent snowy and wet weather, the country is still recovering from last year’s record-breaking dry weather.
