RECORD ENGLISH DROUGHT

Evening Star, Issue 18050, 18 August 1922, Page 1

RECORD ENGLISH DROUGHT

EFFECT ON BITER THAMES. Figures given in the annual report of the Thames ‘’Conservancy indicate that last year’s "rcat drought was without parallel In recent times. The average rainfall for 1921 in tho Thames Valley was only 16.52 in, which is 11.91 in below tho average for the preceding thirty-eight years. H? was, in fact, the lowest rainfall on record, ’falling short by 4.Bin of the. amount measured in, 1887 —namely, 21.02 in, hitherto tho lowest figure recorded. On the other hand, the flow of tho river was not, as might have been expected, quite tho lowest experienced. The total flow for tho whole, year at Teddington was 250,115 million 'gallons, while for 1905 it was 257,603 million gallons, and for 1902 it was only 240,585 million gallons. although the rainfalls of those two vears were very considerably above the rainfall of 1921,' being 24.80 in and 23.19 in respectively. Hie discrepancy is probably to be accounted for partly by variations in density and distribution of rainfall during the years in question, but more perhaps from’ the fact that there was a record period of high rainfall for the seven years prior to 1921. Consequently at tho commencement of tho drought the pervious rock formations in the valley were fully charged with water, and the river drew supplies from these underground sources. Tho quantity of water drawn from the river by the ’ Metropolitan Water Board exceeded tho statutory allowance on 141 days. Naturally the level of water in the river suffered, and it became necessary to restrict the draught of vessels. Constant supervision daring day and night was necessary, and it was only by (ho moat careful adjustment of levels and regulation of iiow in the upper roaches that a sufficient flow of water to meet the reciuirements of London’s supply and of navigation was maintained in the lower reaches. In many instances tributary streams became dry iu parts. For example, tho river Keunet. which joins the Thames at Reading, and which contributes a much larger quantity of water to the main river than any other tributary, and the river Lamboarn, a tributary, of the Rennet, were, at the end of respcclh eiy sixteen miles and four miles shorter than under normal conditions.