"The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it," said Wakeham.
Wakeham emphasized that back-to-back dry summer conditions present serious long-term consequences for local communities and ecosystems.
"A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife and the economy," she said.
She urged the public to balance personal safety during the heatwave with conservative water habits.
"We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture," said Wakeham.
According to the Environment Agency, droughts represent natural events that cannot be uniformly defined because each instance varies in characteristics, duration, and timing.
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The agency categorizes these shortages into agricultural, environmental, and water supply droughts based on soil moisture levels and public delivery concerns.
