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UK's year of drought and flooding unprecedented, experts say
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/18/summer-drought-flooding-unprecedented
The dramatic switch from drought and hosepipe bans in England this spring to the wettest April to June ever and widespread flooding was of a magnitude never seen before, water experts said on Thursday.
While water supplies have made "dramatic" recoveries from droughts before, such as in 1975-76, "sustained recoveries of this magnitude during the late spring and summer have not been seen before," said Terry Marsh, from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH).
Earlier this month, the CEH said that following the wet summer, groundwater levels were above and "well above" the average for early autumn.
The Environment Agency (EA), which is responsible for drought measures and flood defences, said the extreme weather showed the need for the UK to adopt greater resilience to protect homes, roads and power stations.
