Water warning as prolonged dry weather hits rivers

Drought experts have issued stronger advice on water use in response to record low river levels.

Natural Resources Wales said all of Wales is being upgraded from "normal" to "prolonged dry weather" status.

March was the driest since 1944, and warm dry conditions returned in May meaning Wales saw 59% of the expected rain for that time of the year.

It equates to one of the driest three month equivalent periods on record.

NRW's decision was shared with the Wales Drought Liaison Group on Thursday.

The group is chaired by the Welsh government and made up of senior decision-makers from NRW, the Met Office, water companies, Public Health Wales, farming unions and local authority representatives.

NRW is reporting the majority of river flows are currently low or exceptionally low, with dry riverbeds and algal blooms.

Several rivers in north and mid Wales are currently classed as having notably low levels, while the Dee and Ysgir are at their driest since records began in the 1970s.

Welsh Water and Hafren Dyfrdwy are reporting some water levels in reservoirs are below where they would usually be at this time of year.

NRW said it fully supports water companies' advice to use water wisely.

"Such a dry start to the year is causing considerable concern for the health of our ecosystems and habitats, as well as for land management and the agricultural sector," said NRW's Sustainable Water and Nature Manager Rhian Thomas.

"As such, we have taken the decision to move the whole of Wales into prolonged dry weather status."

She said it meant the agency would step up monitoring across Wales and that the Wales Drought Liaison Group would meet regularly to review the status.

"To ensure water can continue to be supplied without damaging the environment, the public and businesses across Wales are being urged to use water wisely and manage this precious resource," she added.