LONDON: Britain is enacting the early stages of drought plans which involve using water carefully to protect supplies, the government said on Tuesday, following record-breaking temperatures.
There are so far no plans for curbs on water use but regulators and water companies are working to manage water levels, including by operating water transfer schemes to allow rivers to be artificially maintained, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
Farmers in areas facing prolonged dry weather will be given more assistance and water companies will draw up potential drought plans, the agency added in a statement following a meeting of the National Drought Group, which comprises policymakers, industry and environmental protection groups.
Temperatures in Britain last week topped 40C (104 F) for the first time ever, igniting fires that destroyed properties in London and torched dry grassland as a heatwave rippled across Europe.
Nowhere in England is currently in a drought, and water companies are maintaining good reservoir storage for summer demand, the EA added.
“Water companies have detailed plans in place to manage water resources for customers and the environment, and are doing everything they can ... to minimize the need for any restrictions and ensure rivers continue to flow,” said Stuart Colville, director of policy for industry body Water UK.
Britain begins drought planning after record heatwave
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Britain begins drought planning after record heatwave
- There are so far no plans for curbs on water use
- Regulators and water companies are working to manage water levels
Junta leader Gen. Mamdi Doumbouya is declared winner of Guinea’s election, provisional results show
CONAKRY, Guinea: Junta leader Gen. Mamdi Doumbouya was declared the winner of Guinea’s election held over the weekend, according to provisional results released late on Tuesday.
Doumbouya won 86.72 percent of the votes counted so far, according to the General Directorate of Elections. The election on Sunday was the country’s first election since a 2021 coup, as analysts said a weakened opposition would result in Doumbouya’s win.
The vote was the culmination of a transition process that began four years ago after Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Condé. The junta leader has proceeded to clamp down on the main opposition and dissent, critics say, leaving him with no major opposition among the eight other candidates in the race.
