Drought Spreads Across England as Water Firms Told to Step Up Response

The National Drought Group (NDG) met yesterday, July 15, following the official declaration of drought conditions in both the West and East Midlands. With dry weather persisting across England, pressure on water resources is mounting. Water companies are being urged to act swiftly to manage supply, while the public is being called on to use water more responsibly.

Since the NDG’s last meeting on June 5, the situation has worsened. Alongside the Midlands, three additional regions, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, East Anglia, and the Thames Valley, have now entered a prolonged dry weather status. Hosepipe bans are already in effect in several areas, and Thames Water is preparing to introduce another on July 22, citing extended dry conditions.

June brought only 80 per cent of the typical rainfall for the month, and it was officially the hottest June on record for England. Two intense heat waves drove water demand far above usual levels. Reservoirs are feeling the strain, with national storage levels down to 75.6 per cent and Yorkshire's dipping further to just 53.8 per cent. In response, authorities have implemented Temporary Use Bans in some areas.

During the meeting, members of the NDG were warned that unless meaningful rain arrives soon, more restrictions may be necessary. That could mean additional bans on water use and further conservation efforts. The Environment Agency emphasised that water companies are expected to stick to their drought management plans. It also called on them to ramp up efforts to repair leaks and adjust operations to help preserve supplies.

Environment Agency teams are actively working in the field, monitoring river levels and coordinating with water providers to ensure communities and ecosystems have the water they need. They’re also advising farmers and other water users on how to manage abstraction in the face of declining river flows and prolonged dry spells. Fisheries teams are on high alert, stepping in to protect fish when low oxygen levels or dried-up riverbeds threaten their survival.

The drought’s impact extends beyond rivers and reservoirs. Since March, signs of stress on wildlife have been mounting. Wetlands and coastal habitats are drying out. Wildfires have erupted in some regions. Breeding seasons for particular rare species have been lost entirely.

Helen Wakeham, Environment Agency Director for Water and National Drought Group chair, said:  “This has been the driest start to the year since 1976, and we need to make sure our water supplies can sustain us through the summer. 

Today, I have asked all the partners who comprise the national drought group to intensify their operational response to manage the drought and use water wisely. Environment Agency teams are out on the ground actively monitoring river levels and working to ensure there is enough water for the people and the environment.”

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “I have asked the National Drought Group to step up its response to ensure we are successfully managing the impacts of ongoing dry weather. Water companies must now take action to follow their drought plans – I will hold them to account if they delay.  

“We face a growing water shortage in the next decade. That’s why we are pushing ahead with urgent water reforms under our Plan for Change, which includes £104 billion of private investment to build nine reservoirs and new pipes to cut leaks.”

Dr Will Lang, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Although some areas saw rainfall at the start of July,  for many the month so far has been fairly dry, continuing a pattern seen through spring and June. We’ve now recorded our third heatwave of the summer, and following a period of fresher, more unsettled conditions, it’s likely to turn warmer and more humid again across many parts of England later this week. There’s also the possibility of heavy, thundery showers for some places too.

“It does look as though we’ll see typical changeable weather during the latter third of July and into early August, with a mix of rain and showers. Confidence in details inevitably gets lower, the further ahead we look, but this would be consistent with our seasonal expectations.”

The National Drought Group brings together representatives from the Met Office, government agencies, environmental regulators, water companies, agricultural bodies, conservationists, and even angling groups. With warm, dry weather forecasted to continue, the NDG plans to meet regularly to coordinate a national response. The goal is to safeguard water supplies for people, protect the natural environment, and support the agricultural sector through what could become a long and challenging summer.