A severe drought has been officially declared across parts of southern England following an extended period of insufficient rainfall and record-breaking summer heat.
The declaration applies to areas spanning Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex. The Environment Agency made the announcement following a meeting of the National Drought Group, which convened to assess water resources and drought conditions throughout England.
Water supplies have experienced substantial strain due to exceptionally high demand coinciding with the hottest summer on record. The combination of elevated consumption and depleted rainfall has created critical shortages across the affected regions.
How severe are reservoir levels?
Current measurements reveal alarming depletion across major water storage facilities. Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor has fallen to just 14.9% of its capacity, representing one of the most critical situations. Other significant reservoirs are similarly affected: Roadford in Devon stands at 36.8% capacity, Burrator at 33.6%, Colliford in Cornwall at 35%, and Stithians at 21.9%.
The Environment Agency has specifically identified Colliford and Wimbleball as having exceptionally low levels, indicating these two reservoirs face the most severe water stress and pose the greatest risk to local supply security.
What does this mean for the region?
The severe drought classification signals that water availability has reached critical thresholds across the declared areas. This status typically triggers enhanced monitoring, potential restrictions on non-essential water use, and coordinated responses from water companies and local authorities to preserve remaining supplies and manage demand.
Residents and businesses in the affected counties should anticipate possible measures to conserve water and may face restrictions on activities such as garden watering, car washing, and other non-essential consumption. Agricultural operations, which depend heavily on water availability, face particular challenges during this period.
Key Facts
- Severe drought declared in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex
- Wimbleball Reservoir capacity has dropped to 14.9%, the lowest among major storage facilities
- Five major reservoirs across the region are operating well below normal levels
- The drought follows the hottest summer on record combined with months of below-average rainfall
- The Environment Agency's National Drought Group reviewed conditions before making the formal declaration
