Government declares severe drought across six southern counties

Record-breaking dry weather impacts reservoir levels

The South East and South West of England have experienced their driest April to September period in over a century, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This dry weather has significantly impacted reservoir levels across these regions.

The Environment Agency reported that the Wimbleball Reservoir is at 14.9 per cent capacity and the Ardingly reservoir is 19.4 per cent full. The agency also classified the Colliford and Wimbleball reservoirs as having exceptionally low levels. Expected storage for this time of year is typically about 75 per cent.

Major news outlets including the BBC, Sky News, and The Guardian have reported on the severe drought declaration and the critically low reservoir levels. The decision to declare a severe drought followed a review of water resources by the National Drought Group, which cited specific concerns for the Wimbleball and Ardingly reservoirs.

Government mandates increased drought planning for water companies

Water companies have been instructed by the government to step up their drought planning, while the Environment Agency will increase compliance checks on water withdrawals. The Environment Agency will increase monitoring of businesses that withdraw water from natural sources to ensure they adhere to permitted quantities.

Water companies must now conduct daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels. The government also noted that lower river flows reduce the dilution of sewage and other pollutants, requiring tougher water quality monitoring.

The Environment Agency has granted drought orders to South West Water and South East Water, allowing them to reduce the volume of water sent from reservoirs to rivers by millions of litres per day. Local Resilience Forums have also been activated to enable the development of support if required.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle warns of unprecedented drought

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle stated that this level of drought is something the country has not experienced for decades. She confirmed that the government is working closely with firms to protect public supplies.

Dame Angela Eagle said that the government is increasing its support and planning efforts in response to the conditions. She has urged the public to consider how they can use water wisely over the coming weeks.

The Environment Secretary has yet to approve requests from three water companies and did not announce approval for proposed bans.

National Drought Group coordinates response and public conservation

The National Drought Group has been meeting regularly since August to coordinate the government response to the dry summer. This group includes the Met Office, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, the Canal and River Trust, hydrologists, conservation experts, and anglers.

The declaration followed a formal review of water conditions across England by this group. The process was established to manage the response to the low rainfall and high temperatures.

Environment Agency chief calls for public water restraint

Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy stated that record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have placed water resources under immense pressure. He explained that recovery depends on both rainfall and water usage.

Scientists have noted that climate change is intensifying weather events such as heatwaves and drought, causing records to be broken more frequently. Consequently, the Environment Agency has asked the public to use less water to leave more in rivers, which helps farmers and protects nature and wildlife.

Philip Duffy expects water companies to follow their drought plans and take the steps necessary to secure public supplies. He stated that the agency cannot change the weather but expects immediate action from water providers.

Government support for farmers and long-term water infrastructure

The government is providing £65m in support for farmers affected by the drought. It has also introduced a strengthened Water Bill intended to tighten oversight of water companies.

This legislation includes plans for nine new major reservoirs to be built by 2050 to secure supplies. Dame Angela Eagle stated that the Bill is aimed at taking back public control of water companies and initiating a decade-long transition to a different water system.

Local resilience forums activated to support affected areas

Local Resilience Forums have been stood up across the affected counties. These forums are designed to enable the quick and effective development of support for the regions if it is required.

Water supply security remains priority despite drought status

Officials maintain that customer water supplies will remain uninterrupted, with the declaration intended to ensure proactive steps are taken before any disruption occurs. The government has urged customers to cut their consumption, noting that usage restrictions have already been imposed in several regions.

South West Water stated that a hosepipe ban has been in force since 8 August with no definite end date. South East Water’s operations director, Douglas Whitfield, said that while standpipes remain part of the company’s drought plan, they are unlikely to be needed.

Water Minister Emma Hardy has directed the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supplies in areas where there is an unavoidable trade-off between environmental rules and water supplies.