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12
Jul 2022
'Use water wisely' plea as reservoir levels drop in Harrogate district
Yorkshire Water has advised residents to use water wisely as the spell of warm, dry weather continues.
The organisation said a lack of rainfall over many months has affected the amount of water it has been able to collect in its reservoirs.
Stocks in reservoirs are at 62%, which is 18% down on usual stocks at this time of year.
Meanwhile, in the hot weather, demand is particularly high, further draining supplies in reservoirs including Fewston and Swinsty, west of Harrogate.
Yesterday, Yorkshire Water supplied over 1.5 billion litres of water, which is 200 million litres above normal levels, equivalent to 530 full 25m swimming pools.
Neil Dewis, the company's director of water, said:
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Rainfall has been below average in North Yorkshire since last autumn, when the county had only 86% of the average amount.
In winter, rainfall was 95% of the average, while in spring it was 73%. Figures for the summer so far show only 19% of an average rainfall amount has fallen, though they only reflect around a third of the season so far.
Head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre Dr Mark McCarthy said:
Yorkshire Water has advised measures including limiting showers to just four minutes, mulching flower beds to reduce the need for watering, reusing water where possible and turning off the tap while brushing teeth.
It has also said lawns do not need watering as even if they turn brown, they will quickly return to normal as soon as it rains.
West End village emerges
At Thruscross reservoir, the long dry spell has led the flooded village of West End to start appearing above the water line.
The village was evacuated in 1966 so it could be made into a reservoir, with homeowners forced to sell up to the Leeds Corporation.
Thruscross Reservoir. Photos by Louise Pullan.Graves were exhumed before the area was flooded, but the gravestones still emerge along with some of the buildings when the water level drops, as has been happening in the last few weeks.
Louise Pullan, who owns nearby Breaks Fold Farm with husband Richard, said until recently it was quite rare for the water level to get that low:
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