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![]() The summer of '76
Weatherman Jack Scott shows the high pressure over Britain
Back in 1976 Britain was in the grip of what was thought to be worst drought of the century. The whole country was affected by water rationing as temperatures soared.
In August of that year a few drops of rain stopped play at Lords for a quarter of an hour - prompting the crowds to start cheering. Standpipes and dirty cars
Water restrictions on industry in the Midlands forced some companies to shorten their working week. As the soil in the bottom of reservoirs cracked and dried out gardeners everywhere were forbidden to use hose-pipes with strict penalties imposed on those who flouted the ban.
The drought was so severe that firemen were unable to put out forest fires raging across the New Forest and other areas in the South of England. Power to the people
The government was so worried about the national shortage of water that it appointed a Cabinet Drought Committee and made the Sports Minister, Denis Howell, Minister in Charge of Drought Co-ordination. He warned Britain that unless consumption was cut by half then the country would face rationing until December. It finally started to rain in October 1976 and Mr Howell rapidly became very unpopular for insisting that restrictions had to continue to apply until reservoir levels were back to normal. 1976 revisited?
However according to Met Office summer rainfall figures less water fell in the recent drought of 1995 (73mm) than in 1976 (76mm). The year of 1995 was also both preceded and followed by drier than normal summers, while 1976 was followed by a year in which rainfall was higher than the average. In fact the 24 month period from April 1995 to March 1997 was the driest on record in parts of the south and east, beating the 1976 record. Drought orders restricting water usage can be imposed by the government on a specific region on behalf of the water companies. Less drought orders were imposed in 1995 and 1996 combined than the 139 orders that were issued in 1976. Water companies have said this is because they have improved their ability to meet water demands in the last 20 years. Companies also promise to pay compensation to consumers if supplies are ever disrupted due to drought in the future. |
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