Severe Drought Declared in Six English Areas as Reservoir Levels Plunge
Reservoirs in southern England drop to critical lows, prompting utility warnings and requests for commercial water use bans.
At a glance
- Severe drought has been declared in parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex.
- Key reservoirs have dropped as low as 16% capacity, far below the typical 75% average for this time of year.
- Water companies have requested government approval to restrict non-essential water use by businesses such as golf clubs and car washes.
Six areas across England have entered severe drought following the nation's hottest summer on record, leaving key reservoirs critically depleted and threatening public water supplies. The declaration covers parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex.
The south-east and south-west have weathered their driest April-to-September stretch in more than a century. Key reservoirs are recording fractions of their normal seasonal capacity, which typically sits near 75 percent. Storage at Wimbleball reservoir has fallen to 16 percent, while Ardingly reservoir stands at just 19 percent capacity, threatening supplies to 95,000 households. Additional supply strains affect smaller reservoirs in Devon and Cornwall, including Drift, Stithians, and the Tottiford and Venford group.
In response, water suppliers are seeking broader powers to curb commercial consumption. South East Water, South West Water, and Southern Water have asked the government for permission to ban non-essential water usage among businesses, which would impact commercial car washes, golf clubs, private schools, and other facilities. However, Environment Secretary Angela Eagle has yet to approve those commercial curbs, instead urging water companies to step up planning and calling on the public to conserve water.
Environmental Trade-offs
Water Minister Emma Hardy indicated that the environmental toll could rise during the crisis. Hardy directed the Environment Agency to prioritise public drinking supplies over ecological protections in severe drought zones where compromises are unavoidable.
The National Drought Group confirmed that authorities will conduct daily monitoring of river and reservoir depths. Officials are also stepping up water quality tests, citing heightened pollution risks because lower river volumes provide less dilution for treated sewage discharges. Furthermore, regulators will conduct additional compliance inspections on businesses permitted to abstract water.
Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy urged water companies to execute their existing contingency measures and secure supplies, while asking consumers to reduce daily water usage to protect local river habitats and wildlife.
Source: The Guardian Business.
Questions and answers
- Which areas in England have entered severe drought?
- Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex have officially entered severe drought conditions.
- What restrictions are water companies seeking to impose?
- South East Water, South West Water, and Southern Water want to ban non-essential commercial water usage, affecting golf clubs, private schools, and car washes.
- How low are reservoir levels in the affected regions?
- Ardingly reservoir is at 19% capacity and Wimbleball is at 16%, well below the seasonal norm of around 75%.
