Gloucestershire at real risk of drought

20th February 2012, 06:00

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People in Gloucestershire are being urged to reduce their water consumption and help the county avoid the worst drought since 1976.

Under its Care for Coln river protection campaign, Thames Water and the Angling Trust are urging people in and around Bibury, Gloucestershire, to order free water-saving gadgets including shower heads, tap aerators and shower timers from their WEBSITE.

A drought-combating van sporting a 10ft-high, 20ft-wide picture of a person using a Thames Water showerhead, sets off from Bibury today on a week-long our of the local area, more than 20 nearby villages including Fossebridge, Chedworth, Barnsley, Northleach, Quenington, Coln St Aldwyns and Yanworth - which are supplied by water from a bore hole that taps into the aquifer under the river at Bibury.

The call to action comes after an exceptionally dry two years in London and the Thames Valley. Since records began in 1884, only 1892-3 and 1920-1 have seen less rainfall.

Richard Aylard, sustainability director for Thames Water, said: "We all need to recognise that the water coming out of our taps comes from our local river or from the aquifer that feeds that river - and the less water we all use the less we need to take from the river.
Our region, covering the Thames Valley and London, has received below-average rainfall for 18 of the past 23 months, with 2010/11 the third driest two-year period since records began 128 years ago, and many of our rivers and groundwater sources are running low as a result.
It is no longer a case of if we have a drought this year but rather when,and how bad. This is not just our problem, its everyone's problem and wecan all do our bit to help - for example, turning off taps while we brush our teeth can save six litres of water a minute."