Environment Agency Declares Official Drought in North West England

The Environment Agency has officially declared a drought in north-west England following an extended spell of unusually low rainfall. As of May 21, the region has entered drought status, an escalation driven by depleted water levels in both reservoirs and rivers, signalling a worrying trend for ecosystems and local water supplies alike.

Data released earlier this month paints a sobering picture: Haweswater and Thirlmere, two key reservoirs in the area, were operating at just 62% capacity. This is due not only to persistently low river levels but also to scheduled maintenance earlier in the year, which further restricted the available supply.

The north-west isn’t alone. According to the Environment Agency, both north-west and north-east England have endured their driest start to a calendar year since 1929—a near-century record. Nationally, England has experienced its driest February to April stretch since 1956, intensifying concerns about water security and environmental stress.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "Across the North West, we officially entered drought status on 21 May due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers.

"Despite the rain over the weekend, levels remain low, and we are encouraging people to be aware of the impacts of drought as we enter the summer period.

"With further unsettled periods and rainfall over the coming weeks, we will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement our North West Drought Plan."

Periods of prolonged dryness pose not only challenges for water management but also ripple through entire ecosystems. Reduced river flow can cause water to lose oxygen, resulting in fish kills. Algal blooms flourish in stagnant waters, choking out aquatic life. With lower water volumes, wildlife struggles to migrate upstream or downstream, disrupting breeding and feeding patterns. And as the rivers shrink, so does our margin for error in protecting the environment.

While the drought declaration sets a more urgent tone, it also lays the groundwork for water conservation efforts, policy responses, and increased public awareness. The signs are clear: nature is under pressure, and without decisive action, the damage may become much harder to reverse.