Research and analysis

Midlands water situation report: June 2024 summary

Updated 12 July 2024

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. Summary

Please see Section 7.3 of the main report for a map detailing the Midlands regional coverage. of this report.

Rainfall - During June, the majority of hydrological catchments in the Midlands received below normal rainfall amounts compared to the long term average (LTA). Four hydrological catchments received normal and one received notably low rainfall totals compared to the LTA.

Soil moisture deficit - Due to below average rainfall totals in June, soil moisture deficit (SMD) increased across the whole of the Midlands. However, SMD in the majority of the Midlands area is less than the LTA meaning that most soils are wetter than usual for this time of year.

River flows - In June, the majority of flow monitoring sites recorded normal monthly mean flows compared to the LTA. Three sites, Great Bridgeford, Walcot and Wedderburn Bridge, recorded above normal flows compared to the LTA.

Groundwater levels – As of the end of June, 5 sites recorded exceptionally high groundwater levels compared to the LTA. The remaining 3 sites recorded normal (Ram Hall and Southards Lane) and above normal (Crossley Hill) groundwater levels compared to the LTA.

Reservoir stocks - As of the end of June, the majority of the Midlands reservoirs in this report recorded near average storage compared to the LTA. Since May, storage in all reservoirs have decreased, with the exception of the Dove.

2. Rainfall

During June, the majority of hydrological catchments in the Midlands received below normal rainfall amounts compared to the LTA. Four hydrological catchments received normal rainfall totals ranging from 61% to 70% of the LTA these were the:

• Shropshire Plains
• Upper Trent
• Derwent
• Lower Trent

The Avon was the only hydrological catchment that received a notably low rainfall total, with only 32% of the LTA.

Over the last 3 months, all hydrological catchments in the Midlands received either normal or above normal cumulative rainfall totals compared to the 3-month LTA. Five hydrological catchments in the northern half of the Midlands received above normal cumulative rainfall totals compared to the LTA these were the:

• Shropshire Plains
• Upper Trent
• Tame
• Dove
• Derwent

The remaining 7 hydrological catchments received normal cumulative rainfall totals compared to the LTA.

Looking at the last 6 months, all hydrological catchments in the Midlands received either exceptionally high or notably high cumulative rainfall totals compared to the 6-month LTA. Six hydrological catchments received exceptionally high cumulative rainfall totals compared to the LTA these were the:

• Shropshire Plains
• Upper Trent
• Dove
• Tame
• Avon
• Lower Severn.

The remaining 6 hydrological catchments received notably high cumulative rainfall totals compared to the LTA. These were situated in the north-east and south-west of the Midlands.

Over the last 12 months, the majority of hydrological catchments in the Midlands received exceptionally high cumulative rainfall totals compared to the 12-month LTA. These catchments received rainfall totals between 138% and 156% of the LTA. Only one hydrological catchment, the Lower Wye, received a notably high cumulative rainfall total of 136% of the LTA.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Due to below average rainfall totals in June, SMD has increased across the whole of the Midlands. In general, by the end of the month the eastern border of the Midlands had the highest SMD values ranging from 71mm to 100mm. Some patches in the south, central and north-east of the Midlands had a SMD ranging between 41mm and 70mm. The remaining areas had SMD values between 11mm and 40mm.

The majority of the Midlands area had a lower SMD than the LTA. This means that soils are wetter than usual for this time of the year. Some areas scattered in the east, south and west of the Midlands have a -5mm to 5mm difference in SMD from the LTA meaning that soils are as expected for this time of the year. The only patch that is drier than usual for this time of the year is located in the south-east of the Midlands. This patch has a 6mm to 25mm difference in SMD from the LTA.

4. River flows

River flows in June show that all flow sites in the Midlands either recorded normal or above normal monthly mean flows compared to the LTA. The majority of flow sites in the Midlands recorded normal monthly mean flows ranging from 66% to 109% of the LTA. The remaining 3 sites recorded above normal flows compared to the LTA. These were Great Bridgeford and Walcot in the north-west of the Midlands and Wedderburn Bridge in the south-west of the Midlands.

5. Groundwater levels   

As of the end of June, all groundwater monitoring stations were recording normal or above groundwater levels compared to the LTA. Five sites recorded exceptionally high groundwater levels compared to the LTA these were:

• Coxmoor
• Four Crosses
• Rider Point
• Weir Farm
• Anthony’s Cross

Crossley Hill recorded above normal groundwater levels compared to the LTA. Ram Hall and Southards Lane recorded normal groundwater levels.

6. Reservoir stocks

By the end of June, all of the Midlands reservoirs in this report had 84% or above storage. Four reservoirs recorded slightly below average storage levels compared to the LTA these are the:

• Derwent
• Dove
• Elan
• Charnwood

Since May, storage in all reservoirs have decreased, with the exception of the Dove reservoirs where there was a slight increase in storage.

7. River Severn operations

The River Severn is regulated to maintain a minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station. This ensures sufficient water flows along the river to support environmental and water supply requirements. Regulation is instigated additional water is needed to maintain flows at Bewdley.

River Severn regulation releases started on 28 June 2024. Regulation releases continued for four days but as of 2 July 2024, regulation releases have been paused.

8. River Wye operations

Up to 12 June 2024, storage in the Elan Valley reservoirs were above the release control line and the flows at Redbrook gauging station remained above the regulation threshold. Therefore, regulation releases were not in operation.

Due to planned engineering works in the Elan Valley, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water have been releasing up to 500 megalitres per day out of the Caban Coch reservoir between 12 June 2024 and 31 June 2024. This release was consented by Natural Resources Wales. During this period, the River Wye regulation was temporarily suspended. On 1 July 2024, it was notified that that reservoir levels have reached the required levels for safe working. Therefore, no additional releases were required for the planned engineering works in the Elan Valley and the River Wye regulation resumed.

On 1 July 2024, storage in the Elan Valley reservoirs remained above the release control line and flows at Redbrook were below the regulation threshold, therefore, regulation releases were in operation. This is currently the case for 2 July 2024.

9. Water abstraction restrictions

As of 3 July 2024 there are 23 water abstraction licence restrictions in place across the Midlands affecting 35 licences in total.

 

Author: Midlands Hydrology, midlandshydrology@environment-agency.gov.uk

Contact Details: 03708 506 506

Disclaimer: All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.