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Reservoirs

Volume 455: debated on Tuesday 16 January 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the water levels are in reservoirs in each of the water company areas. (110424)

In England and Wales, overall reservoir storage is now normal or above normal for the time of year in the majority of the Environment Agency’s regions. In the south west and Midlands regions, levels are slightly below normal. Many reservoirs are now full.

The overall percentage full figures as of 10 January 2007 are given in the following table:

Region

Reservoir levels

Percentage full figures

North East

All key reservoirs or reservoir groups are at a normal level for the time of year

95

North West

Two key reservoirs or reservoir groups are now full. One reservoir is slightly below normal for the time of year

98

Midlands

One key reservoir is slightly below normal for the time of year

92

Anglian

All key reservoirs are normal or above for the time of year

92

Thames

All key reservoirs or reservoir groups are normal or above for the time of year

94

Southern

All key reservoirs are at a normal level for the time of year

92

South West

Two key reservoirs are below normal, one notably low

77

EA Wales

All key reservoirs or reservoir groups are normal or above for the time of year

99

Overall storage for England and Wales is 94 per cent.

Reservoirs, however, provide only around 30 per cent. of water supply in the south east: around 70 per cent. is from groundwater. Groundwater levels are showing a more variable response to recent rainfall and are generally below those expected for the time of year; continued rain will be needed to restore groundwater to normal levels across the south east.