A drought has been declared in Hertfordshire following the country’s driest summer for 50 years.

The conditions, which have almost completely deprived some areas of rainfall, have prompted the National Drought Group (NDG) to move the county into official drought status.

The change could lead to more measures such as hosepipe bans, however, the Environment Agency has reassured the public that essential water supplies are safe.

The NDG is made up of representatives from several organisations including the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), water companies, and the Environment Agency.

At a meeting earlier this summer, the group moved most of England into “prolonged dry weather” status, the first of four stages used to describe its response.

Eight of 14 areas designated by the Environment Agency have now moved to “drought”, the second stage, including Hertfordshire, London, Kent, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, the East Midlands, Devon and Cornwall, and Solent and South Downs.

The last drought was declared in England in 2018.

Water minister Steve Double said action was already being taken by the Government, the EA and others to manage the impacts.

The most recent Environment Agency data showed rainfall totals for August have ranged from 12% of the long-term average in north east England to 0% in south east and south west England.

Meanwhile, river flow data revealed almost 90% of measuring sites were showing below normal readings, with 29% classed as “exceptionally low”.

It comes after the driest July on record for some areas and the driest first half of the year since 1976.

Borehamwood Times: Parched fields along with a field that caught fire in Bedmond. Credit: Jack Hockton, The Drone Agent Parched fields along with a field that caught fire in Bedmond. Credit: Jack Hockton, The Drone Agent

The total stock of water in England’s reservoirs at the end of July was 65% of its normal capacity – the lowest level for that point in the calendar year since 1995, the agency added.

Despite the lack of rain, Affinity Water and Thames Water – the two biggest water companies in Hertfordshire – have not introduced hosepipe bans yet.

The heat and dry conditions have also taken their toll on agriculture.

According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), crops such as sugar beet and maize are showing signs of stress from a lack of rain, while crops relying on irrigation, such as field vegetables and potatoes, are also facing problems.

The NFU also said “tinder dry” standing crops and parched grass posed a huge risk of fires spreading.

There have been several field fires in Hertfordshire in recent weeks with the county’s fire service declaring a critical incident during last month’s heatwave because of the amount of 999 calls coming in.