A severe drought has been declared across parts of southern England after months of low rainfall. The Environment Agency announced the decision following a meeting of the National Drought Group, which reviewed water resources and drought conditions across England.

Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex are affected. Supplies have been significantly affected by high demand following the hottest summer on record.

Reservoirs under pressure

The government said the change to severe drought status was prompted by specific concerns for two major reservoirs: Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset. Wimbleball, on Exmoor, is at 14.9% capacity, while Ardingly is 19.4% full.

Other major reservoirs are also low. Roadford in Devon is at 36.8%, Burrator at 33.6%, Colliford in Cornwall at 35% and Stithians at 21.9%. The Environment Agency has classed Colliford and Wimbleball as having exceptionally low levels.

Wimbleball serves about 300,000 properties across east Devon, north Devon, Somerset, west Dorset and West Somerset. Ardingly Reservoir serves 280,000 customers across East and West Sussex.

Measures announced

The declaration ensures proactive steps are taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs. Ministers have instructed water companies to:

  • Carry out daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels
  • Introduce tougher water quality monitoring

The Environment Agency will also increase compliance checks on businesses that withdraw water from natural sources, to ensure they take only permitted quantities.

The government said customer water supplies would be uninterrupted.

Official comments

Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said: “Record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have put our water resources under immense pressure.”

He added: “Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use. We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now.”

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning.”

The government said the South East and South West had experienced their driest April to September in more than a century, affecting reservoir levels in those areas.