18-Apr-2006 - The Environment
Agency will be addressing the problem of water
shortages and climate change by sponsoring a sustainability
conference organised by Brighton and Hove City
Council.
On Thursday 20 April, the Environment
Agency will be joining Brighton and Hove Council,
Southern Water, Waterwise and Rt Hon Michael Meacher
MP at the Hove Town Hall event. Also attending
will be representatives from businesses and organisations
across Sussex. Discussions will focus on the lack
of water resources in the region and the impacts
of climate change.
Despite some rain and snow in
February and March, we still face possibly the
worst drought in the last 100 years. March looks
likely to have been the 17th month of below average
rainfall in the south east of England. Latest
figures show the region had received just 70%
of the expected rainfall.
The Environment Agency’s Sussex
Area Manager Rupert Clubb will be speaking at
the sustainability conference. Rupert said: "Water
is essential for natural life and for human use.
The way we use water in our homes and gardens,
in commerce and industry and in agriculture, has
a direct impact on the environment, so we must
have a plan for the management of water that will
protect the long-term future of the environment,
while encouraging sustainable development.
"We are asking people and
companies to help conserve water, so we can avoid
unnecessary damage to the environment and help
conserve supplies because we can't predict how
long the dry weather will last.
"Hosepipe bans will be
in place throughout south east England and we
have asked water companies in this area to look
at other options. These include banning water
use for non-essential activities, like washing
windows and watering parks, before applying for
drought permits or orders to take more water from
rivers and groundwater."
Participants will have the chance
to attend a series of workshops encouraging them
to take shared responsibility for water conservation.
The ideas from the conference will be used to
develop a Water Action Plan, which will form part
of the Sustainability Strategy for Brighton and
Hove.
The sustainability conference,
"Water Shortage – The Here and Now Climate
Change Issue", will be held at Hove Town
Hall on Thursday 20 April from 9.15am until 4pm.
The Environment Agency has a
duty to secure the proper use of water resources
in England and Wales. We monitor water in the
environment and issue 'abstraction licences' to
regulate who can take water from the environment
and how much they can take. We also have a 25-year
strategy for Water Resources to meet the needs
of both the environment and society.
