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UK declares severe drought across six southern counties

UK declares severe drought across six southern counties

Built World

Driest April-to-September in a century pushes reservoirs below 20% capacity

October 19th, 2026: Water company bosses answer to drought group

Overview

Updated Oct 21

Severe drought remains in force across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, declared on October 15 after the driest April-to-September in more than a century. Water company chief executives were called before the National Drought Group to explain how they are protecting supplies.

They set out steps including sending less water from reservoirs into rivers, lowering pressure overnight and speeding up leak repairs. National reservoir storage was 54% of capacity in the week to October 13, about 21% below the long-term average, and the Environment Agency says at least 120% of average rainfall is needed over the next six months to lift the drought by spring.

Why it matters

If winter rains fail to refill southern England's reservoirs, millions of households and businesses face tighter restrictions and possible supply interruptions.

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Key Indicators

54%
England reservoir storage
National reservoir storage in the week to October 13, about 21% below the long-term average for the time of year.
120%
Rainfall needed to end drought
The Environment Agency's estimate of average rainfall needed over six months to leave drought status by spring.
11
English areas in drought
Eleven of England's drought areas are under drought status as of mid-October, after Yorkshire joined on October 9. No part of England is deemed normal.
78.4%
England under drought status
The National Drought Group put 78.4% of England under drought status as of mid-October, with 3.2% classified as severe.

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People Involved

Emma Hardy
Emma Hardy
Water Minister, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Leading the government's drought response
DW
Douglas Whitfield
Operations director, South East Water
Managing water supply across Kent, Sussex and Hampshire

Organizations Involved

Environment Agency
Environment Agency
Non-departmental public body
Enforcing drought measures and monitoring water resources

The Environment Agency regulates water use in England, monitors river and reservoir levels, and grants drought orders and permits.
South East Water
South East Water
Water utility
Managing drought in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire

South East Water supplies Kent, Sussex and Hampshire; its Ardingly Reservoir serves 280,000 customers.
South West Water
South West Water
Water company
Managing drought in Devon and Cornwall

South West Water supplies Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Wessex Water
Wessex Water
Water company
Supplying areas around Wimbleball Reservoir

Wessex Water supplies customers from Wimbleball Reservoir in Somerset.

Timeline

August 2026 October 2026

7 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Water company bosses answer to drought group

    Latest Government

    Chief executives set out measures to protect supplies, including cutting reservoir releases to rivers, lowering pressure overnight where appropriate, accelerating leak detection and moving water between networks.

  2. Severe drought declared in six counties

    Government

    Severe drought declared in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.

  3. Ministerial direction puts public supply first

    Government

    A direction under section 40 of the Environment Act 1995 instructs the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supply around the Wimbleball, Ardingly, Roadford and Colliford reservoirs.

  4. South East Water tightens restrictions

    Regulation

    South East Water tightens hosepipe rules and gains a drought permit to keep more water in Ardingly.

  5. Residents complain of unrepaired leaks

    Infrastructure

    People in southern England reported water leaks left unfixed for months during the drought; one Plymouth resident said he told his supplier about a leak 10 months before it was repaired.

  6. Hosepipe ban begins in the South West

    Restriction

    A hosepipe ban takes effect in Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Dorset and Somerset, with no end date set.

  7. Wessex Water issues first ban in 50 years

    Restriction

    Wessex Water introduces its first hosepipe ban in 50 years for customers supplied from Wimbleball.

Scenarios

1

Winter rains refill reservoirs, severe drought lifted by spring

Possible Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Met Office seasonal forecasts and Environment Agency water situation reports

The Met Office says above-average rainfall over a sustained seven-month period is needed to bring all areas out of drought. A wet winter, as forecast, would refill reservoirs and allow the government to lift severe drought status by spring. South East Water's Douglas Whitfield noted a wet winter has been forecast but the timing is not clear.

2

Drought deepens, businesses face non-essential water bans

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: The Guardian; three unnamed water companies seeking restrictions

Three water companies are seeking powers to bar businesses from non-essential water use: golf clubs and private schools could lose irrigation water, and commercial car washes could stop operating. Continued dry weather would push these bans through, expanding restrictions beyond households.

3

Standpipes deployed as reservoirs run dry

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: South East Water operations director Douglas Whitfield

If Ardingly and Wimbleball reservoirs fall below usable levels and winter rains fail, water companies would deploy standpipes, the street-level taps last used in Britain during severe shortages. Whitfield called this unlikely but confirmed standpipes remain part of South East Water's drought plan, noting it would require a very dry autumn and winter.

4

Drought recovery stretches into 2027 despite wetter weather

Likely Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: University of Reading water expert comment

A University of Reading water expert said recovery is likely to take many months rather than weeks, even if wetter conditions arrive. Depleted reservoirs and low river levels leave far less room to manoeuvre if dry conditions persist.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

Summer 1976

1976 UK drought

The 1976 UK drought remains the benchmark for British water scarcity. Sixteen months of below-average rainfall left reservoirs critically low, standpipes appeared in parts of the country, and Parliament passed the Drought Act 1976 to manage water use during the crisis.

Then

September rains ended the crisis, but the drought spawned lasting public awareness of water scarcity and new drought legislation.

Now

The Drought Act's powers shaped how UK water restrictions and drought management work today.

Why this matters now

Like 1976, the current drought has stretched for months with reservoirs at record lows. The government's severe drought declaration mirrors the crisis management of 50 years ago.

August-September 2022

England's record 2022 drought

Record summer heat drove England's 2022 drought, with drought status declared across much of the country by August. Devon and Cornwall reservoirs stood at 33% capacity at the end of September that year.

Then

Autumn rains eased the crisis, though water companies kept restrictions through the year.

Now

The 2022 event became a reference point for water managers; current figures are compared directly against it.

Why this matters now

The Environment Agency's September 2026 figures are measured against 2022: storage of 37% in Devon and Cornwall sits above the 2022 level of 33%, but Wimbleball is lower now than it was then.

Sources

(17)
+11
GOV.UK BBC News The Independent The Guardian BBC News Dorset Echo Water Magazine NFUonline University of Reading iNews GOV.UK, Environment Agency BBC News GOV.UK GOV.UK GOV.UK, Environment Agency Water Magazine BBC News