The Flood Hub

Press Release From: Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Emma Hardy MP

Date: 31.10.2025

 

Despite recent rainfall, a large part of the country remains in drought across England as we enter winter.

The National Drought Group has warned England must prepare for an ongoing drought in 2026, unless there is significant rain this autumn and winter.

There are concerns about the country’s water resources because of this year’s record dry spring and warm summer.

The expert group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – met in central London this morning.

They heard during an Environment Agency (EA) presentation that England needs at least 100% of average rainfall (482mm) to largely recover from drought by the end of March next year. For context, only two months of 2025 have seen more than 100% so far.

All sectors – including water companies, agriculture, navigation, and energy – have been urged to take steps now to increase their resilience for a prolonged drought.

This includes water companies promoting more efficient water use and increasing their efforts to reduce leakage. They must also make sure their assets, such as pipes, pumps and reservoirs, are working well and submit applications for drought permits early to maximise water storage.

Farmers have been urged to check their licences and speak to the EA if they are likely to need flexibility. They have also been asked to look to increase reservoir storage and work with their neighbours to share water, where possible.

Meanwhile the public have been urged to continue to use water wisely, including turning off taps when not in use or fitting a water butt to capture winter rainfall. Everyone has a part to play, to help mitigate the impacts of the dry year.

The meeting heard:

• September saw 149% of long-term average rainfall across England but, despite Storm Benjamin, October (up to 28th) has seen 77%.
• There has been a regional divide with rainfall. The north west received 190% in September and the north east 171%. The south east received 126% and the east 100%.
• The rain has helped the two areas of Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire both move out of drought status into drought recovery today. While this signals an improvement in this area, the position is fragile and with further dry weather, these areas could move back to drought.
• Average reservoir storage is now 63.3% compared to the average for this time of year of 76%.
• Ardingly, in west Sussex,  and Clatworthy and Wimbleball both in Somerset, are below 30%
• The very low level in Ardingly was the reason the EA declared drought in parts of Sussex earlier this month, but recent rainfall has helped.
• South East Water (SEW) has submitted two Drought Orders to Defra. The first, for the River Ouse, and the second for a non-essential use ban which, if implemented, would see water restrictions on some businesses. Both are still being considered by Defra.
• Yorkshire Water has applied for, and been granted, one Drought Order for the River Ouse and 44 Drought Permits.
• Severn Trent has applied for a Drought Permit to help refill Carsington Water reservoir. This is under consideration.
• Temporary Use Bans (aka hosepipe bans) imposed by Yorkshire Water, Thames, South East Water and Southern Water need to remain in place until their water resources situation recovers.
• Recent rainfall has helped ease pressure on the agricultural sector but there are concerns heading into winter on feed availability for livestock due to poor grass growth over the spring and summer.
• Navigation on the Canal & River Trust network is gradually improving including key lock flights on the Oxford and Grand Union Canal now open.

The Met Office declared the summer of 2025 as the hottest since records began in 1884, while the spring was the driest in 132 years.

Water is finite and there are competing demands between public use, businesses, agriculture, and the environment. In dry weather, water still needs to be abstracted from rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater and a drought is only over when these levels are fully replenished. This can take months – sometimes years.

The National Drought Group praised the public for following the hosepipe bans, where in place, as this has kept more water in local rivers and lakes.

The Environment Agency continues to work with Government, including Defra and the Cabinet Office, on the drought response, which is still deemed a “nationally significant incident.”

 

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