Severe drought declared in parts of six English counties as ministers order daily reservoir monitoring

The government has declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, in an announcement on Thursday 15 October. Water companies have been told to step up drought planning. The government said customer supplies will be uninterrupted.

The declaration affects households and businesses served by reservoirs in the south of England. According to the BBC, a hosepipe ban has been in force across Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Dorset and Somerset since 8 August, with no definite end date. Wessex Water introduced its first hosepipe ban in 50 years in August.

England water shortage: where reservoirs are lowest

The change in status was prompted by specific concern for two major reservoirs, Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset, according to the BBC. The Environment Agency says it would expect reservoir storage to be about 75% at this time of year. The latest figures reported by the BBC show how far below that several sites sit.

Put simply, Wimbleball holds roughly a fifth of the water the agency would expect, and Ardingly about a quarter. Sky News analysis of Met Office data found affected counties averaged 232mm of rain between April and September, below the previous record low of 239mm in 1976.

Government drought response

Ministers are instructing water companies to carry out daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels, plus tougher water quality monitoring. The Environment Agency will increase compliance checks on businesses that take water from natural sources, and Local Resilience Forums have been stood up so support can be developed quickly if needed, according to the government.

Water Minister Emma Hardy has also told the agency to prioritise public supplies where there is an unavoidable trade-off between environmental rules and water supply. In practice, that lets companies keep more water in depleted reservoirs. The BBC reports that South East Water has a drought permit to cut Ardingly’s daily release to the River Ouse by three million litres, and South West Water one to cut flows to the River Exe by nine million litres.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning.” Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said: “We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now.” The government also pointed to £104 billion of planned infrastructure investment and nine new reservoirs.

What happens next for water users

A severe drought declaration does not automatically bring new restrictions, the BBC reports, although water companies may introduce further measures in affected areas. The Guardian reports that Eagle has not yet approved requests from South East Water, South West Water and Southern Water to ban non-essential use by businesses such as golf clubs, private schools and commercial car washes.

Hosepipe bans remain, and Wessex Water said its restrictions would stay for the foreseeable future. South East Water said standpipes are part of its drought plan but unlikely to be needed. Its operations director, Douglas Whitfield, said a wet winter had been forecast but the timing was unclear. Duffy said recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water people use.

The government’s announcement does not mention bills. The longer-term reservoir programme is a slow fix: Sky News reports the nine new reservoirs are due by 2050, and the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit’s Tom Cantillon notes that reservoirs take years to build and still need rain to fill. For now, the BBC says the practical steps are shorter showers, fixing leaks and using appliances efficiently.

Your questions answered

Is England going through a water shortage?

Parts of England are. Six areas are now in severe drought, several reservoirs are well below normal and hosepipe bans are in force. The government says customer supplies will be uninterrupted.

Are we on the verge of a water crisis?

The Guardian describes a crisis for public supplies. The government says the declaration is meant to ensure proactive steps are taken before any disruption occurs. The BBC notes severe drought is the highest level that can be declared but is not a civil emergency.

Why is it so dry in England right now?

The South East and South West had their driest April to September in more than a century, following the hottest summer on record. Sky News reports the Hurn weather station near Bournemouth recorded just 1.4mm of rain between 15 June and 15 August. The ECIU links such dry spells to climate change.