Government makes drought order

Levels at Haweswater are low

The government has agreed to make a drought order to allow water from the Cumbrian Lakes to be used to bolster supplies for north-west England.

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said the move would allow United Utilities to pump water from Ullswater lake to Haweswater reservoir to assist water storage in South Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

The order gives the company legal powers to place a weir across the lake for water levels to rise, enabling them to pump water to the reservoir, which will in turn, limit the requirement for more draconian measures next summer.

Mrs Becket has instructed the Environment Agency to monitor the effects on salmon in the River Eden, which will be affected by the drought measures.

Exceptional shortage

Haweswater, which is one of United Utilities' main reservoirs supplying the north-west of England, is running low.

The company says the exceptional shortage of rain during 2003, could be exacerbated by similar conditions next summer.

Mrs Beckett's announcement follows a public hearing by an independent inspector, which backed United Utilities' calls for drought measures.

The water company said the permits will only be used as a last resort, as it is hoped the supply will be replenished.

The company is continuing other measures to boost supplies and conserve reservoir storage.

These include using its regional water grid to move supplies around the North West, pumping more water from the River Dee and drawing on reserve sources such as boreholes.

It is also asking customers to help play their part in saving water.