Reservoir levels across Yorkshire have dropped again over the past week, despite patches of heavy rain in some parts of the county, Yorkshire Water says.
Stocks now stand at 30.6%, down 2.01% from last week and well below the long-term average of 71.7% for this time of year.
Water demand remains high at more than 1.2 billion litres per day.
So far this year the UK has received just 44% of its expected annual rainfall, compared with a typical 67% by this stage. Yorkshire has also endured its hottest summer on record, following a record-breaking spring, leading to the county being declared in drought status.
Dave Kaye, Yorkshire Water’s director of water services, said: “Our reservoirs are feeling the impact of drought in the region, following the driest spring and warmest summer on record.
“Whilst we’ve been starting to see a little more rain with the beginning of autumn, the majority has been taken up by the extremely dry ground, and plants and trees.
“The rain has helped river and groundwater levels in some areas, which will allow us to abstract from watercourses to take the strain off our reservoirs. This, combined with drought orders and permits that have been granted on the Ouse, Wharfe and 19 reservoirs in the south and north-west of the region, will help to reduce the burden on reservoirs and enable reservoirs to recover quicker in the autumn and winter.
“The weather is working more in our favour than it has previously, but we’re counting on a sustained period of wet weather coming. Whilst we’re keeping a keen eye on these forecasts; we’re also focusing on bringing leaks down – fixing over 800 every week – and are incredibly grateful to customers who have helped domestic water usage to reduce by 10%.”
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