The National Drought Group met yesterday to discuss measures to address the ongoing water shortfall as England enters its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures set to reach 34C in some areas.

Commenting on the situation, Helen Wakeham, chair of the Group and Director of Water at the Environment Agency (EA) said:

"The current situation is nationally significant and we are calling on everyone to play their part and help reduce the pressure on our water environment.”

Photo: Yorkshire Water Cammonden reservoir low levels

The latest update covering the period 1 to 7 August 2025 issued by the EA on drought in England says there have been no changes to drought status. On 7 August the Agency applied for a drought order for Winterburn, near Skipton, North Yorkshire to protect the environment. 

If granted, the proposed drought order, which is intended to apply for up to 6 months, will allow the Agency to reduce the compensation flow required from Winterburn Reservoir to the Winterburn Beck. The flow would be reduced in a staged manner from 9.35 megalitres per day (Ml/day)) to 3.41 Ml/day during the period of operation of the order. 

Public water supply reservoir storage levels fell for most reported reservoirs. Stocks across England for the period ending 5 August 2025 were 67.7%, falling 2% in the week. Blithfield, Derwent Valley, Chew Valley, Blagdon, and Yorkshire’s overall stocks are all now less than half full, and the Pennines group stocks are 39% (3 Aug 2025).Yorkshire Water’s reservoir levels are 44% full but continuing to drop. The Environment Agency is now determining 14 drought permits the company recently applied for. United Utilities is taking a range of supply and demand activities to conserve storage in the Pennines group to help conserve supplies.

The only change in water company status this week was for Anglian Water who moved its Ruthamford Central, North, South, and West zones into drought level 1. The company is continuing to review the need for permits.

The Agency says its main concerns for this summer remain with:

• Yorkshire Water
• parts of United Utilities
• South Staffordshire Water
• parts of Severn Trent Water
• parts of Thames Water
• parts of Southern Water
• South East Water due to high demands for water

The EA update says:

“We are seeing the impact of the dry weather on water resources and demand more broadly. We are closely monitoring the situation of Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Bristol Water, Northumbrian Water, Cambridge Water and Essex and Suffolk Water.

“Restrictions on abstractions continue to be in place in catchments where hands-off flow conditions have been met. Due to low river flows, we are reviewing the need for Section 57 bans in parts of East Anglia.

“Reports of environmental incidents continued to rise steadily throughout July. Incidents are widespread across the country, matching the extent of the drought impacts.”

Areas currently in drought status include:

• Cumbria & Lancashire (CLA)
• Greater Manchester Merseyside & Cheshire (GMMC)
• Yorkshire (YOR)
• East Midlands (EMD)
• West Midlands (WMD)

Areas currently in prolonged dry weather include:

• North East (NEA)
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire (LNA)
• East Anglia (EAN)
• Thames (THM)
• Wessex (WSX)
• Solent and South Downs (SSD)

Current water situation

Rainfall for the first six months of the year was lowest in the north-east and east, with 58% and 60% of the long-term average (LTA) respectively. It was the driest March to July period since 1921 across central and north-east England. It was the equal fifth warmest July on record for England in a record starting in 1884.

Rainfall for July varied from 52% of the LTA across the south-west to 110% LTA across the south-east. Overall England received 89% LTA in July.

This week soil moisture deficits have largely increased across all areas except the north-west.

With a wetter week in some areas, it has been a mixed picture for river flows with slightly more (56%) receding compared to rising.

In total, 28 sites (51%) were classed as normal for the time of year, including all sites in the north-west. Among others, 15 sites (27%) were below normal, six (11%) were notably low, and three (River Wye on the Welsh border, River Severn in central England, and River Ely Ouse in east England) continued to record exceptionally low flows for the time of year. The monthly mean July flows in the River Wye and Ely Ouse were both the lowest on record for July.

Nationally reservoir storage levels fell by 2% during the past week to 67.7%. For the period ending 5 August 2025 the lowest reservoirs are Blithfield (49.1%), Derwent Valley (47.2%), Chew Valley Lake (48.3%) and Blagdon (46.3%). Yorkshire reservoirs are 44.3% now and the Pennines group are 39% (3 Aug 2025).

As expected at this time of year, groundwater levels are receding. Levels in the Chilterns, North Downs and across East Anglia are in their normal range. However, at the end of July the limestone aquifers in the Cotswolds were exceptionally low for the time of year, and levels in faster responding chalk aquifers are notably low in some areas, i.e. Yorkshire, Wessex and the Isle of Wight following the dry spring.

The water companies are continuing to act, in line with their drought plans.

Agriculture - EA warns of risk to harvesting if dry weather continues into August and September

In terms of the impact on agriculture, although recent rainfall has been welcomed by growers, impacts from the dry weather remain. As of 7 August, there were 814 hands off flow restrictions in force on abstraction licences which are limiting to the ability to irrigate some crops. Hands off flows are in-built conditions on some abstraction licences that require abstractors to either reduce or stop abstraction when flows fall below a predetermined level set out in the licence.

Due to low river flows, the EA says it is reviewing the need for Section 57 irrigation bans in parts of East Anglia and also monitoring the River Wye catchment in the West Midlands for any potential Section 57 bans.

The Agency is warning that if the dry weather continues into August and September, there is a risk to harvesting of root vegetable crops which require irrigation where the ground is dry. This may impact further on crop quality and yields if irrigation restrictions remain.

Heatwaves over the summer have affected grass and maize growth and in areas where there has been limited rainfall, there are concerns on winter forage stocks. Straw and fodder stocks are expected to be in short supply this year and higher prices are expected as a result. Winter wheat has seen record breaking yields in places but crops such as peas have suffered due to heat stress and drought conditions.

Canal and River Trust reservoir holdings in worst position since records began

The dry weather has also affected many the Canal and River Trust hydrological units which continue to deteriorate despite the recent rainfall. Nationally its reservoir holdings are in the worst position since records began.

Navigation restrictions continue through the Canal & River Trust network with navigation closures and restrictions across the Leeds and Liverpool, Trent and Mersey, Peak Forest, Chesterfield, Lancaster Rochdale, Macclesfield, Trent and Mersey, Oxford, Grand Union canal, Coventry, Birmingham Canal Navigation and Kennett and Avon canal.

Drought readiness actions

In response to the drought and dry weather, the Environment Agency says it is continuing to act by:

• operating its Gold command structure for the national incident response
• coordinating closely with water companies to implement statutory drought plans, taking necessary action to safeguard public water supplies
• activating drought plans for those areas in drought and PDW status
• enhancing abstraction licence compliance checks and issuing hands off flow/level restrictions and warnings to some abstractors in areas experiencing low flows
• monitoring, preparing and responding to incidents caused by low river flows, particularly in those areas in Drought status
• preparing dry weather advice to fishery operators to help protect their waters
• hosting regular national drought meetings

Read WaterBriefing’s Expert Focus briefing by Antonin Fradin, Head of Smart Operations and Assets for SUEZ Digital Solutions, which takes an in-depth look at how organisations tackle drought in an era of growing water scarcity.