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.