A water company has asked for permission to take more water from some of the Lake District’s most famous lakes, as the UK experiences its driest summer for decades.
United Utilities, which supplies water to north-west England, has submitted three drought applications to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to extract water from Ullswater, Windermere and Ennerdale Water.
Drought applications can be made when there is an exceptional shortage of rainfall and public water supplies are at risk.
This week United Utilities announced it would be introducing the first hosepipe ban in England since 2012, after the UK’s longest heatwave in more than 40 years.
Martin Padley, United Utilities’ water services director, said: “The reducing raw water reservoir levels are not surprising given the ongoing lack of rainfall.
“Applying for drought permits is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure that water supplies are protected for both customers and the environment.” Jim Ratcliffe, the drought manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We are currently checking whether we have all the information we need to begin to determine these applications.
The water resources situation could also improve if demand for water reduces or if enough rain returns to replenish supplies.
“The Environment Agency will always balance the needs of the public, businesses, industry, farmers and the environment.” After a slight dip in temperatures and rain in some places, the UK is expected to have another heatwave next week, with temperatures reaching the low 30s.
The UK has had its driest start to a summer since 1961, with an average daily maximum temperature from 1 June to 16 July of 20.9C.
The highest daily maximum average for an entire summer (June, July and August) was 21C in 1976.