To aline with this week’sWater Saving Weekand following last month ’s announcement that South West Water has extended its hosepipe ban to an extra 390,000 homes in response to concerns over water shortages , the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) is recommend action on water direction subsidisation to increase the diligence ’s resilience to drought .
The HTA represents its members on the National Drought Group , which met last month to discuss the urgent motivation to concentrate on preserving urine resources now , to trim down the peril of drought measures in the time to come . The grouping comprise aged decisiveness - makers from the Environment Agency , the government , the Met Office , body of water companies , and key farming and environmental groups .
A very dry February , followed by an exceptionally wet March and unsettled April , play up that businesses can not rely solely on the atmospheric condition and should focus on preserving water to prevent future drought measures . Whilst much of England is in a in force position than last year and reservoir capacitance across the UK was at 94 % as of the beginning of April , East Anglia , Devon , and Cornwall remain in drouth and face temporary use ban . The National Drought Group is preparing for the worst - case scenario of another hot , dry summer and is urging water companies and individuals to reduce leakage , decrease water consumption and find out new slipway of being springy to drought .
On 4 April , the government published their ' program for Water , ' which sets out measures to increase drouth resilience and ease water supply pressures . It aim to take a taxonomical , local , catchment - base coming , using nature - based root and substructure investment . This is welcomed by the horticultural industry , which relies on piss to flourish . As such , we expect water companies to remain with public information campaigns advance the public to save water in the coming month , and we will figure out to ensure that any electronic messaging relating to the creditworthy use of piss in gardening does not adversely touch on participation in gardening . The HTA has also encouraged horticultural businesses to slenderize their reliance on mains water through the use of rainwater seizure technology . However , whilst the Plan for Water is a footprint in the right direction , the HTA urges sufficient supporting for all members without restrictions maintain them back from access financial support to increase their resilience .
The current Water Management Grants from Defra are open to horticultural businesses growing or design to grow irrigated solid food crop , ornamentals , or forestry nurseries . However , the investment funds lower limit needs to be lowered for many member of the HTA to make it workable . These extremity require to apply reservoirs for self - sufficiency but do n’t need them at the current specified ordered series and can not start the initial outlay . If the necessary scale and investment were slim , more businesses could quash their trust on the interior water supply . The HTA is requesting that water society and the Environment Agency furnish or support a funding program for horticultural businesses to enhance rainwater capture , construct artificial lake , recapture run - off , and utilise gray water . This would avail reduce capital cost for these businesses .
The industriousness needs to grow sustainably to meet the governance ’s tree diagram planting target , continue to contribute to human wellness and welfare , palliate against climate change , and meliorate local biodiversity . Additionally , the Environmental Improvement Plan relinquish in February dress out the administration ’s design to increase the percentage of water supply reposition used by the factory farm and gardening sectors by 66 % by 2050 . The HTA emphasizes the importance of consistently recognizing horticulture as a disjoined industry from agriculture , as water habit and end product vary importantly between the two . This recognition of the gardening industriousness will take into account for adept support and specialization of funding specific to horticulture .
In the event of sustained drought periods , before the necessary financial backing for investment is made usable , the horticultural diligence will bear on to increase its use of rainwater capture . However , it is imperative that water companies and the Environment Agency go together with the garden center sector to encourage consumers to slim down body of water habit in the garden and gain rainwater seizure / water reuse at home . The combined country of the UK ’s domestic gardens is roughly the same as the whole of Somerset , highlighting the necessary to train domesticated nurseryman on their role in protect body of water surety .
HTA Members can get at advice , resources , and counselling on the on-going situation and better resiliency here : HTA Water Resources
