England is grappling with serious water shortages, with two key reservoirs in Somerset holding less than half their capacity, officials warn. This alarming shortage comes despite rainfall in July and is compounded by a return to hot, dry conditions across the nation.
The National Drought Group—comprising the Met Office, regulators, government agencies, water companies, and other organizations—recently met to assess the situation. They reported that five areas remain in drought status while six others continue to experience prolonged dry spells.
The water scarcity is causing widespread environmental and agricultural harm. Crops are underperforming, livestock feed is dwindling, wetlands and river ecosystems are suffering, and the risk of wildfires is escalating. Experts attribute these extreme weather patterns to climate change, noting it exacerbates droughts and increases the severity and frequency of heatwaves.
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Although July saw significant rainfall in some regions, it was still the fifth warmest July on record. River flows and reservoir levels have declined since June and remain substantially below typical levels for this time of year.
With August’s return of dry weather and an anticipated fourth heatwave pushing temperatures into the 30s Celsius, pressure mounts on already stretched water supplies. Reservoir levels in England dropped by 2% last week and now average 67.7% full, compared to the usual 80.5% for early August and 75.6% last month, according to the Environment Agency.
The lowest levels are observed in Blithfield in Staffordshire, the Derwent Valley reservoir group in Derbyshire, and Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake in Somerset—each below 50% capacity. Nearly half (49%) of England’s rivers had flows below normal in July, with the Wye and Ely Ouse rivers reaching historic lows.
Waterway navigation faces restrictions across multiple canals due to low water levels. Despite July’s rain, total rainfall was only 89% of the long-term average, marking six consecutive months of below-average precipitation. Central England has experienced its driest February to July period since 1921.
Looking ahead, the Met Office forecasts mostly settled weather with high pressure building through August, meaning continued dry conditions, though intermittent showers or thunderstorms remain possible.
Water authorities have praised the public’s cooperation with hosepipe bans currently in effect in parts of Yorkshire, the South East, and Southern England. These measures and simple actions like turning off taps and deleting unnecessary emails—which reduce water consumption in data centers—are helping stem demand. Yorkshire Water reports a 10% reduction in domestic water use, equating to savings of up to 80 million liters daily, or the volume of 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, emphasized the urgency: “This is a nationally significant situation. We all must act to reduce pressure on our water environment.” She called on water companies to fix leaks rapidly and encouraged everyone to adopt water-saving habits for the protection of rivers and wildlife.
Farmers, too, face daunting challenges. National Farmers’ Union Vice-President Rachel Hallos highlighted significant crop yield reductions that jeopardize farm incomes and potentially the UK’s broader harvest. Livestock producers are already drawing on winter feed reserves amid minimal grass growth, increasing future costs.
The NFU is urging investments in water infrastructure and improved planning to mitigate ongoing drought impacts.
Drought conditions also degrade aquatic environments by lowering oxygen levels, causing fish kills and algal blooms, and limiting wildlife mobility. Wetland habitats are drying up, while wildfires increasingly threaten heathlands and moorlands. Recent major fires—such as the one at Holt Heath in Dorset and another on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh—have stretched fire services thin.
The Fire Brigades Union warns that funding cuts have left emergency services ill-equipped to handle the rising number of intense wildfires. FBU General Secretary Steve Wright stressed that “these incidents are intensifying due to the climate emergency,” and called for urgent government investment to rebuild fire service resilience and public safety.
As temperatures climb and dry conditions persist, England faces a critical test in managing its water resources and protecting its environment and communities from the growing impacts of drought.