Winter drought despite rain

With prolonged spells of heavy rain so far in November, it’s perhaps hard to imagine that North Devon is still technically experiencing drought conditions. Water industry experts warn that unless we have exceptionally high levels of rainfall this winter, we could face further shortages next spring and summer.

Dr Lisa Gahan, head of water resources at South West Water says, “We are seeing the direct consequences of climate change. Our rain is becoming less consistent. When it does rain, it increasingly arrives in short intensive bursts onto land hardened by long periods with little or no rain, which does not absorb the water as effectively as soft soil.”

The company is urging everyone to reduce the amount of water they use to help recharge the region’s reservoirs this winter. A hosepipe ban is still in place in Cornwall and parts of North Devon (Torridge) as levels remain “exceptionally low”.

Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor (below) has been at 19 per cent of its normal capacity, while those supplying North Devon including Wistlandpound and Roadford have seen record low levels since the summer heatwave, where temperatures consistently reached more than 40°C.

The pictures opposite, taken from the same spot at Wistlandpound Reservoir, show the dramatic difference in water levels between a normal winter in 2021 and what it’s like this year. Dr Gahan says the company has already invested £27 million in a network of pipes to move water around the region to where it’s most needed. South West Water insists it is doing more than ever to find and fix leaks, alongside establishing new reservoirs and technology to collect, store and treat water.

You can find water saving tips online here: southwestwater.co.uk/services/save-water

Wimbleball Reservoir, end of October 2022

Wistlandpound Reservoir photos by Matthew Eckford

Winter 2021