River Ver above St Albans during 1992 drought

Image: © David Leeming Taken: Unknown

This photo shows the Ver at the height of the 1989-92 groundwater drought period when it dried out as far downstream as Kingsbury Mill, St Albans. The narrow trickle of water shown originated a little upstream at Gorehambury where there was a semi-perennial discharge of urban run-off derived from Harpenden throughout the drought period. No natural flows from the chalk groundwater were possible until well below St Albans, towards Park Street, as the water table fell well below the riverbed. However, river flows were supported by a borehole discharge at Kingsbury Mill St Albans to maintain river amenity through Verulamium Park and further downstream. A later image taken in May 1994 at this location http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3630816 shows prolific beds of water starwort (Callitriche spp) following a strong recovery of river flows. The "groundwater drought" of 1989-92 was ended by the wet winters of 1992/93 and 1993/94 which recharged the chalk aquifer. Flows in the river were also improved after closure of the Friars Wash Pumping Station in late April 1993. This pumping station previously abstracted large volumes of groundwater near the head of the river, but this abstraction generally ceased after implementation of the River Ver Flow Alleviation of Low Flow Scheme (Ver ALF).

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