Severe drought declared in six areas of England as public water supplies under threat
Some reservoirs in south-east and south-west at critically low levels as water companies call for non-essential user bans on businesses A severe drought has been declared in six areas of England with some reservoirs at critically low levels, threatening public supplies. Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex have moved into severe drought, and urgent measures are…
A severe drought has been declared across six regions of England, with water supplies at risk due to critically low reservoir levels. The crisis stems from the country's hottest summer on record, prompting water companies to seek non-essential user bans on businesses like golf clubs and commercial car washes. However, Environment Secretary Angela Eagle has yet to greenlight these restrictions.
Emma Hardy, the water minister, has instructed the Environment Agency to prioritize public water supplies over environmental regulations in affected areas. National Drought Group officials have warned that the government and the Environment Agency will increase daily monitoring of reservoirs and rivers, and intensify water quality testing due to the risk of sewage pollution.
Businesses utilizing water will face heightened compliance checks. Reservoirs in the south-east and south-west, including Ardingly and Wimbleball, are at critically low levels, with only 19% and 16% of capacity respectively. The Environment Agency predicts reservoir storage should be at around 75% for this time of year.
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