The Environment Agency has raised a “medium” risk of drought in England this summer, threatening millions of UK households with potential water restrictions after the driest start to the year in over 60 years. Without consistent rainfall, regulators warn that measures such as hosepipe bans may soon become necessary to safeguard water supplies.
Although hosepipe bans are not imminent, water companies are preparing for the possibility of usage restrictions in response to an exceptionally dry spring. This starkly contrasts with last year, when England experienced its wettest 12 months from October 2023 to September 2024, leading to flooding and challenges for farmers.
Chris Weston, CEO of Thames Water—the UK’s largest water supplier—warned that summer restrictions may be required if conditions don’t improve. Speaking to MPs, he expressed confidence that the nation would not run out of water but noted that restrictions could depend heavily on weather patterns and rainfall in the coming months. Thames Water’s reservoirs currently stand at 94% capacity, and the company has moved up its drought readiness from Level 0 to Level 1.
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Despite these precautions, concerns remain. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee highlighted Thames Water’s significant daily water loss of 56 mega-tonnes and raised alarms over delays in constructing a new reservoir in Oxfordshire, which won’t begin until 2028 and won’t be finished until well into the next decade.
Across the country, reservoirs average 84% full, but levels at Lake District reservoirs Thirlmere and Haweswater are notably low at 58%, dropping by as much as 2% per week. United Utilities, serving northwest England, has already begun urging customers to conserve water.
Experts attribute these extreme dry conditions to climate change, warning that such patterns will likely become more frequent. Scotland and Northern Ireland are also experiencing some of their driest starts to the year on record, while England’s February to April period was the driest since 1956.
In response, water companies are accelerating leak repairs and transferring water across regions to help the driest areas. A spokesperson from Water UK noted: “Following the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years, water companies are breaking records in fixing leaks and redistributing water to relieve the driest areas.”
Water UK urges customers to adopt simple conservation measures at home and in gardens. Recommended steps include watering plants during cooler parts of the day, placing pots in shaded areas, and letting lawns go brown temporarily, reassuring that they will recover when rain returns.
Despite the dry conditions, the National Trust has enjoyed a vibrant spring bloom, thanks to last year’s wet weather and recent sunshine. However, Rebecca Bevan, senior consultant on plant health and sustainability at the Trust, warned that without summer rain, many plants and trees will suffer stress.
Richard Thompson, Deputy Director of Water at the Environment Agency, emphasized that climate change will increase the frequency of summer droughts. He called for greater public water conservation, accelerated leak repairs, and expanded rollout of smart meters.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson highlighted the strain on the UK’s aging water infrastructure caused by population growth and climate change. Over £104 billion in private sector investment has been secured to build essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, to ensure future water security.
With millions of homes potentially facing hosepipe bans this summer, householders are urged to prepare and conserve water to help mitigate the impact of this growing drought risk.