RESIDENTS are being urged to use water wisely as Dorset is declared as being in environmental drought.

The Environment Agency moved the county, along with the rest of the South West region, to the status today following a period of below-average rainfall.

A spokeswoman for Wessex Water, which supplies Dorset, said the change of status would not affect residents or farmers, and there were no plans to impose a hosepipe ban or other water restrictions.

Ben Johnstone, strategic drought manager for the Environment Agency in the South West, said: “The status reflects the impact this extended dry period is having on the environment and we are asking everyone to use water wisely.

“The amount of water we all use has a direct effect on the amount of water available in rivers and for wildlife.

“The Environment Agency works to balance the water needs of people, farmers, businesses and the environment and we are working with all sectors to plan ahead to meet the challenges of a continued environmental drought.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust has issued a plea to people to save water to help river levels before it’s too late.

Richard Slocock, vice-chairman of the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset Fisheries Association, said parts of the river could dry up unless rainfall retu-rned to normal soon.

He said: “The most vulnerable area at the moment is at Tolpuddle. Levels are similar to what you would expect at the end of autumn and in all likelihood, we will see it just run out.”

The effect, he added, would be disastrous for wildlife.

“It would mean the death of fish, crayfish, flies and plants. It will desiccate the river.

“It would mean losing valuable, wild fish that spawned in the river and are their own special sub-species.”

Robert Lasseter, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) county chairman for Dorset, said the change in status was not a reason to panic.

He said: “We all have our part to play in this and the more efficiently everyone – farmers and people in town – can use water the better.

“Undoubtedly we need rain and a lot of it, but we could still have a good harvest and there is no need to panic yet.”

Wessex Water added that their reservoirs are, on average, 85 per cent full. The region has had two successive dry winters and 16 of the last 25 months have had below average rainfall.

March saw only 35 per cent of the rain it would normally expect.

• DORSET Wildlife Trust says the prolonged dry spell has endangered the plants and animals that rely on rivers and wetlands to survive.

Sarah Williams, a conservation officer with the Trust, said: “Several small streams are already drying up and some of the winterbournes, rare wetland habitats, have not flowed at all this winter. It is vitally important that we all take saving water seriously now.”

For more information about how you can save your river, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk