What to do in specific emergencies

Drought

Droughts are natural events, caused by insufficient rainfall placing stress on water resources and the environment

Preparation before Drought

• Use rain water wisely - collect in barrels and water butts for gardening

Actions during Drought

• Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap. Use the leftover water for watering plants
• Do not leave the tap running whilst brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands - this can waste up to 5 litres of water per minute
• Replace worn tap washers to prevent drips that can waste up to 4 litres of water a day
• Use a watering can rather than a hose in the garden.  Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day
• Regularly weed and hoe your garden to ensure that watering helps plants and not weeds
• Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short
• Water your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening - this will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation
• If you water plants and shrubs too frequently their roots will remain shallow, weakening the plant. Wait until they show signs of wilting before watering them
• Use mulches such as wood chippings, bark and gravel to help prevent water evaporation and suppress weeds that compete for the water intended for your plants
• Use the minimum amount of water required when you boil water
• Wait until you have a full load before using dishwashers and washing machines as half load programmes use more than half the water of a full load
• A 5 minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. However, power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes
• Place a brick or similar object in the toilet cistern.
• Use a bucket for washing the car - not a hosepipe

Additional information and advice on droughts can be found in the DEFRA drought webarchive and on the Met Office Website.