The Environment Agency is taking action to protect water supplies and wildlife in the Midlands as dry weather continues to put pressure on river levels. The River Severn, one of the UK's most important rivers, supplies drinking water to around 6 million people and supports internationally important wildlife and habitats.
The Environment Agency continuously monitors river flows and takes measures to ensure water needs are met while protecting the environment. If levels drop too low, the river can be topped up by releases of water from 2 reservoirs in Wales or the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme, which currently contributes around 200 million litres of water a day to the River Severn.
Matthew Lawrence, Manager for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands, said, 'The River Severn may look like it has healthy summer flows, but this is all down to the work we are doing behind the scenes.' The agency is working with farmers, growers, and water companies to encourage sustainable water use during the dry weather.
The Environment Agency is also responding to the impacts of low water levels on wildlife. On the River Teme in south Shropshire, fish rescue operations have been carried out where conditions have become unsuitable for fish to survive.