Avon River, UK’s vital water source, on verge of drying up: Anadolu Agency

By Gokhan Kurtaran and Bilal Acar

LONDON (AA) - One of the most significant water sources in the UK has been documented by Anadolu Agency to be almost totally dried up in various locations along its 120-kilometer (75-mile) area.

Water in the Avon River is nearly dry in Clifton and Bristol, which begins in the southern hills and runs through Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset areas.

When mud traces on the river bed were closely investigated, it was discovered that the river had lost a significant portion of its previous flow and the river bed had moved around.

The source of the River Thames in Gloucestershire, which runs through London, is experiencing a drought, according to an Anadolu Agency report at the beginning of the week.

The government proclaimed a drought in the southern, central and eastern parts of the nation as rising temperatures and minimal rainfall have led to increasingly dry conditions.

The announcement by the National Drought Group of Environmental Agency (EA) will see restrictions implemented on the commercial use of water in the affected areas.

The Ministry of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs said more than half of England is under drought conditions because of the driest summer in the past 50 years.

The drought has affected most of England's 14 regions, it said, including Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and South London, Herts and North London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and West Midlands.

Yorkshire Water, a water distribution provider, announced that a hosepipe ban will be introduced starting Aug. 26.

South East Water, another potable water company, also announced a hosepipe ban and irrigation ban for customers in Kent and Sussex, which will take effect Aug. 12.