THE ENVIRONMENT Agency (EA) has announced the West Midlands is now experiencing a flash drought, brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. The Environment Agency has again stepped up its operational response, including enhanced monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater. In the West Midlands, the Environment Agency continues to run its River Severn regulation system, to ensure flows remain on a river which provides 6 million people with drinking water. “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. The current drought now means there have been three in the past five years – in 2022, last year and now.