Efforts are under way to protect water supplies amid ongoing dry weather.
The Environment Agency is taking action in the Midlands to safeguard both people and wildlife as river levels remain under pressure.
The River Severn, which supplies drinking water to around six million people, is being supported through targeted water management measures.
Matthew Lawrence, manager for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands, said: “The River Severn may look like it has healthy summer flows, but this is all down to the work we are doing behind the scene.
“We are working hard to maintain river levels for people and wildlife.
“We will continue to monitor the conditions closely and will not hesitate to use our regulatory powers to mitigate the impacts of dry weather on the environment, water supplies and other sectors.”
Rescue operation on the River Teme in south Shropshire where conditions have become unsuitable for fish to survive (Image: Environment Agency)
One of the key measures in place is the operation of the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme, which currently releases around 200 million litres of water per day into the River Severn.
This is equivalent to 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The groundwater is stored naturally within the sandstone aquifer beneath north Shropshire and is transferred via a 53km network of underground pipelines.
At full capacity, the scheme can deliver up to 240 million litres of water per day.
Water can also be released from two reservoirs in Wales if river levels continue to fall.
These interventions are designed to keep flows at Bewdley in Worcestershire above the minimum target of 850 million litres per day, measured as a five-day average.
The Environment Agency is also addressing the impact of low water levels on wildlife, particularly fish.
Rescue operations have been carried out on the River Teme in south Shropshire where conditions have become unsuitable for fish to survive.
In response to the ongoing dry weather, the agency is working with farmers, growers, and water companies to encourage sustainable water use.
This includes introducing temporary restrictions on abstraction and offering advice around options that could improve access to water.
Together with Defra, the Environment Agency convenes the National Drought Group, which brings together government, water companies and industry to ensure that, when drought occurs, the response is swift, coordinated and effective.
The group met yesterday (July 20) following the recent heatwave which saw 12 consecutives days of temperatures above 30C.
