The short version
- A severe drought declaration now covers parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and Sussex after reservoir levels fell far below seasonal averages.
- Key water sources like Ardingly and Wimbleball are operating at roughly one-fifth capacity, prompting daily monitoring and reduced river releases.
- While the government prioritizes public supply protection, it has not yet authorized requested bans on non-essential business water use.
The United Kingdom’s National Drought Group has elevated the status of water scarcity in southern England to severe drought, the highest classification available. This designation applies to specific regions within Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex. The decision follows a comprehensive review of water resources that revealed significant deficits across the network. Officials stated that this move is intended to ensure proactive measures are implemented to safeguard supplies before any disruption reaches households or essential services.
The primary driver for this escalation is the critically low volume of water in major reservoirs. Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex, which serves approximately 280,000 customers, holds only about 19 percent of its capacity. Similarly, Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor, supplying roughly 300,000 properties across Devon and Somerset, sits at just under 15 percent full. These figures stand in stark contrast to the Environment Agency’s expectation that reservoirs should be approximately 75 percent full at this time of year. Other significant storage sites, including Roadford, Burrator, Colliford, and Stithians, also report levels well below historical norms.
The current crisis is rooted in the driest April-to-September period recorded in more than a century for the south-east and south-west regions. This prolonged dry spell was compounded by the hottest summer on record, which drove high demand for water consumption. The combination of minimal rainfall and intense heat has placed immense pressure on water resources. Government ministers noted that the severity of the situation is unprecedented in recent decades, necessitating a coordinated response from various agencies to mitigate harm to people, infrastructure, and the environment.
In response to the declining levels, the Environment Agency has issued specific drought permits to major water companies. South East Water has been authorized to reduce daily releases from Ardingly Reservoir into the River Ouse by three million liters. Concurrently, South West Water may decrease flows into the River Exe by nine million liters per day. These reductions are designed to preserve drinking water supplies for human consumption. The agency has also intensified compliance checks on businesses that abstract water from natural sources to ensure they are not exceeding permitted quantities.
Despite the severity of the declaration, the government has not yet approved requests from three major water companies to impose bans on non-essential business users. South East Water, South West Water, and Southern Water had sought restrictions targeting entities such as golf clubs, commercial car washes, and private schools. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle emphasized the need for urgent planning but stopped short of endorsing these specific commercial limitations. Instead, the focus remains on daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels, alongside heightened scrutiny of water quality to address risks associated with lower dilution rates of sewage.
Water Minister Emma Hardy indicated that protecting public supplies takes precedence in areas where a trade-off exists between environmental regulations and human needs. The Environment Agency has been instructed to prioritize securing water for households and essential services. This approach aims to prevent civil emergencies while managing the inevitable strain on ecosystems. Officials warn that recovery depends heavily on future rainfall patterns, which remain unpredictable, as well as reduced consumption by the public.
For residents in the affected areas, the severe drought status does not automatically trigger new mandatory restrictions for households. However, water companies may introduce further measures if conditions deteriorate. A hosepipe ban has already been in effect since August across Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and parts of Dorset and Somerset, with no definitive end date set. Authorities are urging individuals to adopt careful usage habits, such as taking shorter showers and repairing leaks, to help maintain river levels and support agricultural and wildlife needs.
Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, stressed that while weather patterns cannot be controlled, immediate action by water companies and the public is essential. The government’s strategy involves a co-ordinated effort to reduce impacts and support recovery without declaring a civil emergency. As autumn progresses, the focus will remain on balancing the urgent need for drinking water with the long-term health of rivers and local ecosystems, all while monitoring for any further drops in storage levels.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Severe drought declared in parts of southern England
- The Guardian World↗Severe drought declared in six areas of England as public water supplies under threat
