Lake 'at unprecedented low level after dry spring'
Rudyard Lake, near Leek, has dropped to 3.55m (11.6ft) below full, which adds up to about 30% capacity, according to the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which owns the site.
Adam Comerford, CRT's national hydrology manager, said the dry spell had presented a "real challenge" in terms of managing water resources.
"We've experienced one of the driest springs on record and it's gone into the summer with the heatwaves everyone has been enjoying," he told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We are worried, it is unprecedented – it's exceptional," Mr Comerford added.
The water is used to top up canals in the area, though he said other sources in the area can be used if the lake's levels get too low.
He said the trust would never allow the reservoir to become empty, because of support it provides the wildlife, adding the lowest it would get to is 10%.
Andy Rushton, who regularly walks at the beauty spot, said he did not remember the water ever being this low in the 40 years he has been visiting the lake.
"To be honest, it's a bit depressing because you come down the driveway from the other bank and there's nothing to see – it's just dried mud," he said.
"Being a lover of wildlife, it doesn't help any of the birds or anything that nests on this side of the lake."
Hydrologist Margaret Clark, claimed the site had also suffered from a "lack of maintenance" for many years.
"You would see low levels because it's a period of hot weather, but not as low as this," she said. "There would be ways of conserving the water."
Ms Clark said she would like to see an effort being made to bring the reservoir back to its "designed standard".
In response, Mr Comerford said the CRT was "investing hugely" in its assets across the country, with about £17m being spent each winter over the next five years.
He said it was a challenge for the charity to maintain its reservoirs and canals in the face of rising costs.
"We've got about 30% of the water left and we're trying to conserve that the best we can," he added.
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Drought declared in Midlands after hot, dry weather takes its toll
Heatwave triggers reservoir swimming warning
Severn Trent urges more caution with water supplies
Canal and River Trust
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Brighton Heights residents frustrated after multiple water main breaks
It's common to see a water main break in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood, and residents told KDKA they're sick and tired of going without water. People like Milo Boscardin, who lives on California Avenue, have been talking about water for a long time. "It's just like electricity, you know, you don't think about it until you don't have it, and then you realize how much you depend on it," Boscardin said. "You want to wash the dishes, you need water. You've got pets, you've got to give them water." The problem is that they're usually without it due to a water main break in the 16-to-20-inch pipe at Woods Run and Brighton roads, which distributes water to much of the neighborhood. Boscardin said he has lost water for hours to days dozens of times through the years, and at least three times so far this year. "It's ridiculous," Boscardin said. A spokesperson for Pittsburgh Water told KDKA to help in the future when there's a break or routine work, it is looking at ways to permanently open some valves to make sure there are additional routes for water to flow through the neighborhood. Pittsburgh Councilman Bobby Wilson of District 1, which represents Brighton Heights, said work should start as soon as the end of this week. "People deserve good, fresh, clean water, and that wasn't happening," Wilson said. He said action should have been taken earlier. "We won't fully see if this is going to be a solution until it's fully enacted," Wilson said. Boscardin and his neighbors hope it will make a difference. "This is summertime, in the winter, it's always worse. So, they really need to fix it and fix it right, get it done, bite the bullet, get it done," Boscardin said. Pittsburgh Water also said it is looking to improve communication with the greater neighborhood when there's a break.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Bloomberg
Iran Faces Another Water Crisis as Drought Strains Supply
Iran is facing one of its worst droughts on record as a major drop in annual rainfall forces authorities to restrict supply across the country. Officials have warned that drinking water may be at risk as volumes in dams supplying Tehran province — one of the Middle East's largest metropolitan areas with a population of almost 14.5 million — are roughly half of what they were last year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
No fines for breaking hosepipe ban in last five years, Southern Water says
Southern Water has not handed out any fines for breaching the restrictions of hosepipe bans in the last five years. Following the driest spring in over 100 years and hottest June on record, a temporary use ban was put in place on Monday, July 21, with the public being told to refrain from using hosepipes for tasks such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools, or washing cars. Those who break these rules can be fined up to £1,000 by Southern Water under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. But a spokesperson for the utility company said "formal enforcement has not been required" so far, during the current ban and the previous in 2022. READ MORE: 6 rules you need to follow during Hampshire hosepipe ban to avoid £1,000 fine They said: "This year's hosepipe ban is the first since 2022, which in turn was the first in 10 years. Formal enforcement has not been required as yet. "Our priority has been on working together with our community to bring down water use, and we would like to thank our customers for their support. "We are confident this support will continue, to keep taps flowing and to protect our environment."
