The Environment Agency has declared a severe drought across parts of southern England following several months of low rainfall. The announcement affects Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex. The decision was made after a meeting of the National Drought Group, which reviewed water resources following what the agency described as the hottest summer on record.
The government stated that customer water supplies will remain uninterrupted despite the declaration. The move to severe drought status is intended to trigger proactive steps to safeguard water resources before disruption occurs. The Environment Agency reported that the South East and South West regions experienced their driest period from April to September in more than a century.
Specific concerns were cited regarding two major reservoirs: Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset. Recent figures show Wimbleball is at 14.9% capacity and Ardingly is at 19.4% full. Other reservoirs are also reported at low levels, including Stithians at 21.9%, Burrator at 33.6%, Colliford at 35%, and Roadford at 36.8%. The Environment Agency noted that reservoir storage typically averages about 75% for this time of year.
For business owners who withdraw water from natural sources, the Environment Agency will increase compliance checks to ensure they do not exceed permitted quantities. The scale of the shortage is represented by reservoir levels that are roughly 55 to 60 percentage points below the seasonal average of 75%. Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy stated that recovery depends on future rainfall and reduced consumption, urging the public to use less water to preserve levels in rivers for farming and wildlife.
The declaration sets a precedent for government intervention in water management during extreme weather events. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle noted that the government is stepping up planning due to drought levels not experienced for decades. The next steps involve water companies following their specific drought plans to secure public supplies. While specific deadlines for the end of these measures were not reported, the Environment Agency will continue to monitor whether rainfall is sufficient to replenish reservoirs that have fallen to as low as 14.9% capacity.