(Image: Supplied)
A York MP has called for water companies to be nationalised after the county was placed into drought due to low levels in reservoirs and rivers.
Luke Charters said the drought declaration on Friday (October 9) was “yet another stark reminder of the failures that have plagued Yorkshire’s water system for years”.
It comes as Yorkshire Water said it is not planning to introduce water restrictions for customers because of extensive work to manage supplies, reduce leakage and move water around the region’s network.
But Mr Charters said the drought underlined the “importance of the prime minister’s decision to remove barriers to public ownership of water”.
“While prolonged dry weather has played a role, it is impossible to ignore the chronic underinvestment and neglect of our water infrastructure that has left our region so vulnerable,” the Labour MP for York Outer said.
He added that the “current model is failing consumers, failing our environment and failing to deliver the resilient infrastructure Yorkshire needs”.
“We must restore public accountability, rebuild public confidence, and ensure that this vital service works in the interests of the communities it serves. Yorkshire’s water should be in the hands of Yorkshire people.”
Meanwhile, Andy Shaw, Yorkshire Water’s head of water production, treatment and energy, said the region has experienced an “exceptionally hot and dry summer”, and conditions have remained dry into September with the county receiving just over half the normal long-term average rainfall in September.
“The Environment Agency’s decision to move Yorkshire into drought reflects these conditions, but it does not mean water restrictions are currently needed,” he said.
Mr Shaw said water demand remains “usually high for this time of year” so it is asking customers to continue using water wisely wherever possible.
“Small actions such as shorter showers, running full washing machine loads and checking for leaks at home can make a real difference,” he said.
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Vicki Townend, area environment manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, also urged people to be aware of the impacts of drought and use “a little less water” to speed up the area’s recovery.
She said Yorkshire has had the fifth driest April to September on record.
“This ongoing lack of rainfall means the flow in rivers and groundwater levels in certain parts of our area are very low and have now reached our trigger for declaring a drought,” she said.
“Even if we receive a few weeks of rain, we cannot quickly reverse the effects of the lack of rainfall during a very dry spring and summer.”
Ms Townend said the Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while implementing Yorkshire’s drought plan.
The ongoing pressure on water resources across the country comes after what has been provisionally declared the hottest summer on record.