Drought status declared for North Wales after wildfires and record-low river flows
Drought has been declared across North Wales, including the river catchments covering Flintshire, after widespread wildfires, record-low river flows and weeks of hot, dry weather.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed the declaration today, Wednesday 23 July.
It covers North Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, South Gwynedd, the Dee (Wales), Clwyd and the Upper Severn.
A catchment is the area of land drained by a river, and the Dee and Clwyd catchments between them take in Flintshire.
North Wales and the Upper Severn has received less than 2% of its expected rainfall for the month so far.
NRW said many areas of North Wales have seen no significant rainfall since 6 July, and July is on course to become the driest on record in Wales for almost 190 years if heavy rain does not arrive before the end of the month.
River flows across large parts of the region are exceptionally low for the time of year, with some locations recording new monthly minimum flows and others approaching record lows.
Groundwater levels continue to fall and river temperatures have been high.
At the same time, all remaining catchments across south-west Wales have moved from normal to prolonged dry weather status.
NRW confirmed the same change for South East Wales last week, meaning all of Wales is now experiencing either prolonged dry weather or drought conditions.
Drought is declared when a combination of indicators show a shortage of rainfall and water availability serious enough to affect rivers, groundwater, ecosystems, agriculture and land management.
It does not automatically mean water shortages for customers, and water companies report that reservoir levels remain healthy overall.
People are being encouraged to use water wisely to reduce pressure on the environment.
Rhian Thomas, Sustainable Water and Nature Manager at NRW, said: “The prolonged period of hot, dry weather we have experienced this summer is now having serious impacts on the environment across parts of Wales.
“We have seen rivers fall to exceptionally low levels, groundwater continuing to decline, and increasing reports of environmental impacts affecting wildlife, fisheries, farming and sensitive habitats.
“The recent wildfires across North Wales and South East Wales are one of the clearest and most visible signs of how dry our landscapes have become. Our teams continue to work closely with fire and rescue services, local partners and land managers to respond to these incidents and reduce risks where possible.
“While drought status does not automatically mean water shortages for customers, it does reflect the growing pressure being placed on our environment. We are asking everyone to play their part by using water wisely and helping to protect Wales’ natural resources during this exceptionally dry period.”
NRW teams have reported drying riverbeds, isolated pools in smaller rivers, increased risks to fish and freshwater species, and mounting concerns from farmers about water availability and grazing conditions.
Additional water has been released from some reservoirs to support river ecosystems and fisheries, and controls on taking water from rivers are being applied under NRW’s drought plan.
The organisation is working with water companies, the Welsh Government, the Environment Agency and the Wales Drought Liaison Group to monitor conditions.
People enjoying the outdoors are asked to take extra care to prevent fires, and anyone who spots a wildfire should move to a safe location and call 999 immediately.
Environmental incidents can be reported to NRW online or on its 24-hour hotline, 0300 065 3000.
The forecast suggests further dry weather over the coming week, and NRW warns that without sustained rainfall, conditions could deteriorate further and more catchments may move into drought status.
Water saving advice is available at letssavewater.cymru.
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