A state of severe drought has been officially declared across large swathes of Southern England, as the Environment Agency warns that the region’s water resources are under “immense pressure.” The declaration, which marks the most critical stage of dry conditions, affects parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex following a record-breaking summer of extreme heat and heightened water demand.
Officials confirmed that the South East and South West have endured their driest period between April and September in more than a century. This sustained lack of rainfall has left critical reservoirs depleted to dangerous levels, far below their expected seasonal capacity.
The situation is most acute at the Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex, which supplies approximately 95,000 properties, currently sitting at just 19% capacity. Similarly, the Wimbleball reservoir in Somerset, which serves around 300,000 customers across Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, is holding only 16% of its capacity. Under normal conditions, both reservoirs would be expected to be at approximately 75% at this time of year.
The Environment Agency defines “severe drought” as a stage that carries lasting consequences for the environment, the economy, agriculture, and local communities. While the government has assured the public that residential water supplies will remain uninterrupted for now, the declaration triggers a formal mandate for water companies to accelerate their drought management plans to safeguard future supply.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle described the current situation as an anomaly not seen for decades. “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning,” she said. Dame Angela highlighted the government’s long-term strategy, pointing to a new Water Bill aimed at tightening regulations on utility providers and committing to the construction of nine new major reservoirs to bolster the nation’s infrastructure over the next ten years.
Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, stressed that while the weather remains beyond human control, both water companies and the public must play their part in mitigating the crisis. “Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use,” Duffy stated. “We are asking everyone to use less water. That will leave more in our rivers and the environment, helping farmers and protecting wildlife and nature.”
As the region braces for the challenges ahead, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has emphasized that this proactive declaration is designed to implement protective measures long before any potential disruption to household taps occurs. For now, the focus remains on rigorous demand management and monitoring the fragile state of the South’s critical water stores.
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