Heatwave leaves new £3m mega-reservoir EMPTY in drought despite capacity for 200 Olympic pools of water

The UK heatwave has sapped a new, gigantic £3million mega-reservoir of all its water, despite having the capacity for the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized pools, piling pressure on a large food operation on the east coast. The massive basin, constructed on the Elveden Estate, a 22,500-acre plot of land in Suffolk, was finished in October last year and intended to protect the estate's significant vegetable and cereal operation. To do so, it was filled with a massive 500,000 cubic metres of water - around 50 million litres - which the month-long heatwave has now almost completely depleted. The estate's managing director has said that, while it is "used to dealing with a lack of water", the unprecedented challenge of this year was "going to be tight" as farmers around the country struggle with failing crops. Elveden Estate manager Andrew Blenkiron, said it would be a fight to support 10,000 acres of farmland following what he said was an "incredibly testing" year for the farm. He said: "This year has been incredibly testing. We're used to dealing with a lack of water and whatever Mother Nature throws at us." The manager added: "That being said, one of the reasons for this new reservoir was to be able to cope with these incredibly long, hot, dry summers." "This is the third year out of five we've experienced these conditions and the big danger is if we have a dry winter, we've got some really serious problems next year." The Elveden Estate is described as the largest ring-fenced arable farm in lowland Britain and has felt the full impact of the drought and heatwaves. The estate finished its cereal harvest in July and winter barley was 30 per cent down on average, a situation that will ring familiar to farmers across the country, who have struggled in the harvest this year. On Monday, the National Farmer's Union warned that the UK faces food shortages because the oppressive heat has stunted crop growth, with wheat and oats taking a particular hit. Tom Bradshaw, NFU president, said oat production this year has been "very, very poor", and told BBC Radio 4 the country has taken its food supply "for granted for far too long". He said: "We have taken our food supply for granted for far too long. Those other countries around the world that we currently rely on to produce our food and vegetables, their climates are changing as well." "It does feel like there is going be some shortages of [food] products." The NFU president added: "We have to recognise that water security is a critical part of our food security and food security is our national security." Elveden Estate, which primarily produces onions, and potatoes and carrots for McDonald's, has only seen a few precious millimetres of rainfall in recent months. The site is home to three reservoirs but the other two are down to their last 15 per cent of capacity and the estate is relying on their groundwater boreholes. Mr Blenkiron added: "Those people who have put so much effort into irrigating crops deserve medals. It’s been flat out here for almost four months now, with only a couple of days off from watering in early June." "It really is going to take a lot of rain to make any significant difference. People say we can import food from around the world but because of the El Nino event, we could see impact on crops across the globe in future." The £3m reservoir is filled with water from the River Lark during the winter months. The Environment Agency announced last month half of England was officially in drought, with July set to be the driest on record. There is currently no end in sight for the heatwave in some parts of the country, as while thunderstorms have developed over Wales and Scotland today, southeast England remains dry. Effectively no rainfall - just 1mm or less - was recorded across the whole of July in 19 counties across England, according to Met Office figures, with Environment Agency director Helen Wakeham, who is also Chair of the National Drought Group, saying the UK faces "long-lasting impacts" of severe heat. She said following the drought announcement last week: "The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it." "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. We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture." Heatwave Britain England as a whole had just a 10th of the average rainfall for the month, while Wales saw just 9 percent of the average, with both countries seeing less than half of the rainfall in the previous record dry July in 1911. Southern England also had its hottest July on record, while it was the joint hottest July on record for Wales, and the UK and England had their second hottest July, the provisional figures show. And in an exceptionally sunny month, the UK, England and Wales have all recorded their sunniest Julys on record – and for England and Wales it was the sunniest calendar month ever observed, the Met Office said. Several UK water suppliers have imposed hosepipe bans impacting a total of more than 20 people as lakes and reservoirs run dry, with dramatic pictures showing the country's rolling green hills and usually lush countryside running in shades of beige and brown. Thames at Reading recorded its lowest ever level late last month, and the critical Walthamstow wetlands have nearly dried out, as has the Howden Reservoir in the usually damp Upper Derwent Valley in the Peak District. The hot weather has also had devastating health consequences for Brits. An estimated 2,877 people died from heat-associated deaths across the first two heatwaves of this year, which landed between May and June in England, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) said.