The idea that could protect the water levels of a tourist hotspot

It has been one of the hottest summers on record – possibly the hottest ever.

It has been one of the hottest summers on record – possibly the hottest ever.

Although most have been soaking up the golden rays shining on the Greater Manchester towns, there have been consequences. The long spells without a good deluge have dried out some of the city-region’s waterways.

Canals in Rochdale, Ashton and Manchester have resembled puddles in most parts, revealing some of the bleak contents sitting beneath the murky water.

Rubbish and debris has been spotted by passersby who usually enjoy a stroll along the picturesque canals. But it’s more than just the hot weather sparking this phenomenon, with Canal and River Trust pointing the finger at vandals purposefully draining water from canals.

A spokesperson for Canal and River Trust said previously: “It’s always shocking to see the amount of rubbish that people throw into the canal.

“Our canals are feeling the effects of the drought, and in Manchester this has been compounded by people purposefully draining water from the Ashton and Rochdale canals. “We’ve been working round the clock to manage water levels, but the lack of water – especially when vandals waste it – is extremely challenging.

“We need sustained rain to top up the reservoirs that feed the canals, but, as soon as water levels allow, we’ll get them back open to navigation.”

The knock on effect is ‘beaching’ on the local reservoirs, which have all seen serious depletion in recent weeks.

One particular tourist hotspot impacted is Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough – presenting scorched earth where water used to be. Many revellers at the scenic landscape have been spotted setting up like they’re on Blackpool beach.

The reservoir is a feeder for Rochdale Canal, which is notoriously leaky. The water normally used for sailing, rowing and other watersport activities has been flowing into a canal that can’t keep the liquid in.

Although recent rainfall means there was never a true danger of local communities running out of drinking water, there have been calls to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself in the future.

One local politician has suggested Hollingworth Lake be cut off from Rochdale Canal so that watersport activities – and the tourism that brings – won’t be impacted in the future. Given the fall of Rochdale’s textiles industry, the canal no longer plays a vital role in transporting goods.

It was originally built in the late 18th century to deliver bulk goods such as coal, cotton, wool, and agricultural produce to and from Manchester’s industrial and Rochdale’s textile mills.

Coun Tom Besford, who represents the Littleborough Lakeside ward, said: “Hollingworth Lake was originally created to feed the canal system. Since then, it’s become a nationally renowned space for rowing, sailing and other outdoor activities.

“I think it’s now more important to keep the lake available for these sports, which are vital to our local economy and communities, than using it to fill a leaky and poorly maintained canal network.”

In order to make this a reality, it would take an act of Parliament to sever links between the reservoir and the canal, according to Coun Besford. With climate change making warmer weather a more common occurrence, it is possible those calls for the canal cut off will grow.

The Met Office predict 2025 will move 2018 off the top spot for ‘warmest summer on record’ for the UK. This would relegate 1976 out of the top five warmest summers in a series which dates back to 1884.

The UK’s mean temperature from June 1 to August 25 currently stands at 16.13°C, which is 1.54°C above the long-term meteorological average. At present, 2018 is the warmest summer since 1884, with a mean temperature of 15.76°C.

So, unless temperatures are around four degrees below average for the last few days of August – which the forecast does not suggest – it looks like the current record will be exceeded.

It is for this reason that United Utilities – who are tasked with maintaining Hollingworth Lake and are responsible for the majority of water supply infrastructure in the North West – are urging residents to be more mindful of their water usage.

Earlier this month, UU said regional reservoir levels were standing at 59 per cent compared to an average of 73 pc for the time of year. They explained they are working closely with the Environment Agency and other stakeholders to safeguard water supplies for both the environment and communities.

UU is also repairing over 900 leaks a week; moving water to where it’s most needed; offering free water-saving visits to schools, homes and businesses; and engaging with customers and local events to share water-saving habits and tips.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The North West has seen one of driest starts to a year on record, and we are asking our customers to continue doing their bit and use water wisely in their homes and businesses. With local reservoir levels lower than we would expect for the time of the year, we can all play our part to make sure there’s enough water for people, wildlife and the environment.

“We’re continuing to carefully manage our water resources through our vast integrated network of pipes to move water around the region to ensure it goes where it is needed. We’re also tackling more leaks than ever, and our engineers are out fixing around 900 leaks a week across the North West. We’d like to thank our customers for everything they’ve done so far and ask for their continued support in saving and recycling water wherever they can.

“As with any reservoir, we always ask visitors to stick to the walking routes on public footpaths and to take the advice around reservoir safety seriously.”