AS the Yorkshire Dales countryside dries out after one of the wettest winters and springs on record, farmers, golf clubs and other landowner are being advised on how to build their own private reservoirs to tide them through the summer.

With climate change making traditional seasonal patterns almost impossible to predict, such small reservoirs would help sometimes scarce water supplies to be used more efficiently – and become a haven for wildlife.

The Environment Agency has published a guide to help people create their own back-irrigation supply and Anne Taylor, the agency’s principal planning officer advises:

“As water availability is getting scarcer it is essential that it is used efficiently to get more crop per drop. In addition to this, if water is abstracted during high river flows and stored, it will reduce the impact on the environment in the summer and provide a more reliable source of water for irrigation.”

Careful planning when building a reservoir can reduce costs and maximise benefits. The booklet provides a guide through the various stages from planning, design, construction through to commissioning. It includes case studies, information on costs and funding and incorporating environmental enhancements. This booklet can help make the process easier.

“Approximately a fifth of all water abstracted for spray irrigation comes from reservoir storage; but concerns regarding future water security is driving that figure upwards. For many businesses we believe that building an irrigation reservoir is a no-regret action”, says Dr Jerry Knox from Cranfield University, one of the co-authors of the report who recently attended the UK Irrigation Association conference on reservoirs at Peterborough.

• Copies of the reservoir booklet are available from the Environment Agency by contacting us on 08708 506506 or by downloading it from the publications catalogue at http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk