bbc.com
Yorkshire Drought: Reservoirs at Record Low
Yorkshire faces one of its most serious droughts, with reservoir levels at a record August low of 42.2%, prompting fish rescues and applications for drought permits to draw water from rivers, following a hosepipe ban.
- What are the underlying causes and long-term implications of this drought in Yorkshire?
- This drought is among the most severe in recent Yorkshire history, surpassed only by 1995, with current August levels the lowest on record. The situation is exacerbated by a predicted dry August, unlikely to alleviate the drought conditions.
- What is the severity and impact of the current drought in Yorkshire, and what immediate actions are being taken?
- Yorkshire Water reservoirs are at a critically low 42.2% capacity, far below the typical 65-80% for August, resulting in fish rescues and applications for drought permits to supplement water supplies from rivers.
- How might this drought affect Yorkshire's water resources and ecosystems in the coming months, and what further measures could be considered?
- Yorkshire Water's application for 14 drought permits, including river abstractions and a drought order for the River Ouse, aims to mitigate the crisis by reducing reliance on already depleted reservoirs. A hosepipe ban, already in place, has yielded a 10% reduction in domestic water usage.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the drought as a serious and urgent issue, emphasizing the low reservoir levels and the potential consequences. The use of quotes from experts adds to the sense of urgency and seriousness. However, the focus on Yorkshire Water's actions might downplay other contributing factors or potential solutions.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual. Terms like "historic low," "most serious droughts," and "extremely dry year" are descriptive but do carry a certain level of emotional weight. However, the language avoids overly alarmist or sensationalist phrasing.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the drought in Yorkshire and its impact, but omits discussion of potential broader national or international contexts of drought or climate change. It also doesn't explore potential long-term solutions beyond water conservation measures. The article mentions the hosepipe ban's impact, but does not discuss the potential economic or social consequences of the drought or the varying impacts on different segments of the population.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights critically low reservoir levels in Yorkshire, impacting water availability for both human consumption and environmental needs. The situation is described as one of the most serious droughts in recent times, necessitating emergency measures like fish rescues and applications for drought permits to abstract water from rivers. Low reservoir levels directly threaten water security and sanitation, aligning with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).