英伦广角 2011-12-03 英国旱情预警

 The first day of winter, but already there are warnings of possible hosepipe bans next summer. Many reservoirs are well below normal levels for the time of the year. South, central and eastern England have had the driest twelve months on record, and there is no sign of significant rain for the region. 

 

"We are starting to think now about the possibility of restrictions¹ on use next summer if we don’t get, you know, a good amount of rainfall in what remains² of the winter."

 

And that means a hosepipe ban, is that inevitable³?

 

"I don’t think it’s inevitable yet. But you know, every day we have the reservoirs like this with no rain, it’s getting closer and closer. Yes."

 

Ardingly reservoir in Russex is just 12% full, and levels are still falling.

 

I should be standing⁴ under eight meters of water. You couldn’t see on the concrete there, the mark of the water level would normally be for the time of the year. Instead this reservoir has become an enormous mudflat and the company says if there is no more rain now, the water could run out altogether in just two months.

 

According to a new report by the Environment Agency, a drier than average winter will leave a huge area of England at high risk of drought next year. Reservoirs across Russex and Kent are unexceptionally low levels. Anglian Water has been granted a permit to top up Pistford reservoir with river water. And Times water has warned rainfall over the winter need to be at least 80% of the average, or restrictions could be imposed as soon as the late spring. 

 

"It had a very dry spring and a very dry cold winter before it. So this is an advanced warning that everyone must be careful with water."

 

The Environment Department says climate change is making rainfall increasingly unpredictable. It will shortly publish plans to ensure the country is more resilient to extended periods of drought.

 

Thomas Moore, Sky News.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。