Drought conditions in England

Following an exceptionally dry period between April and September, drought conditions have been declared across various parts of England. Initially, the Environment Agency declared a drought in Yorkshire due to low river and reservoir levels. While Yorkshire Water indicated no immediate water restrictions, the region joined central, southern, and eastern England in drought status.

The UK government has since declared a severe drought in six counties: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex. This follows a period described as the driest in over a century for the South East and South West regions, exacerbated by a record-breaking summer heatwave.

Reservoir levels have reached critical lows. In West Sussex, the Ardingly reservoir is at 19% capacity, while Somerset’s Wimbleball reservoir has fallen to 16%, well below the seasonal average of 75%. Two major reservoirs in southwest England, serving roughly 400,000 properties, are also below 20% capacity.

In response, Water Minister Emma Hardy has instructed the Environment Agency to prioritize protecting public water supplies, even if it requires deviating from certain environmental regulations. While companies such as South East Water and South West Water have proposed bans on non-essential water use for businesses—including car washes and golf clubs—Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle has not yet approved these specific restrictions. The Environment Agency is increasing monitoring of water levels, conducting stricter quality checks, and performing more frequent inspections of businesses that abstract water.