Five successive heatwaves and the warmest summer on record have left millions of Britons living in drought conditions.
The Environment Agency does not give one single definition for a drought, attributing different factors including duration and its impact on people.
However, all are caused by a severe shortage of rainfall, and there are fears that the situation may not change until next spring.
It has led to widespread hosepipe bans across the country, which experts believe could remain in place for the foreseeable future unless there is a “significant amount of rainfall” this winter.
Which regions are in drought?
Last Friday, Yorkshire was the latest area to announce drought conditions after successive months of minimal rainfall.
Yorkshire Water announced it is not planning to impose restrictions for customers at this moment, despite the region’s new status.
The area joins all of central, southern and eastern England in drought status while the North-East and North-West remain in prolonged periods of dry weather.
The Environment Agency has declared drought in the following regions in England:
- East Anglia
- Hertfordshire and North London
- Thames
- Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
- West Midlands
- Wessex
- Kent and South London
- Solt and South Downs
- East Midlands
- Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
- Yorkshire
Yorkshire Environment Agency manager Vicki Townend admitted the “ongoing lack of rainfall” had resulted in a water deficit as reservoirs hold just above a 40 per cent capacity – far below the average of 75 per cent for this time of year.
Townend said: “Even if we receive a few weeks of rain, we cannot quickly reverse the effects of the lack of rainfall during a very dry spring and summer.”
Diana Valero, a social scientist at The James Hutton Institute, believes there “needs to be a change” in the discourse surrounding water scarcity and how individuals react to pressures.
“It’ll take a while to change,” Valero said. “In our research we’ve seen many households impose self-restrictions and water wise behaviours, but they adopt this when they see water sources drying out.
“Households need to respond beforehand – they need to be proactive not reactive.”
There are eight reservoirs now classed as being “exceptionally low” for the time of year.
The i Paper understands the Environment Agency is concerned about the low levels at Wimbleball reservoir, operated by South West Water, Ardingly Reservoir, operated by South East Water, Clatworthy, operated by Wessex Water, Colliford, operated by South West Water, and Hanningfield reservoir and Abberton reservoir, both operated by Essex and Suffolk Water.
How long could drought status last?
Last month, The i Paper reported that large areas of southern England could still be in drought by next spring.
Research from the Environment Agency showed the country will need above-average rainfall throughout both autumn and winter for most areas to be out of drought by April 2027, following a succession of exceptional heatwaves.
England would need 120 per cent of typical rainfall over the next seven months just to be considered out of the drought status – which now affects 11 regions.
Miriam Glendell, a hydrologist and director at CREW, warns that many households must “expect” to experience a drought “every year”.
She said: “It’s not unusual anymore to be in a drought. The spring and autumn months can become as dry as mid-summer and now water resources fail to always replenish in the winter.
“Water scarcity is a big risk to people and we need to do our best to save water and use it wisely, whether it’s in the household or more widely across the public and private sectors.”
In August, it was revealed that around 45 million people were living in drought conditions.
Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, argued that the upcoming El Niño will increase the likelihood of replenishing water and lift the drought status.
However, it “isn’t enough” to have significant rainfall but instead “we need rain to fall in the right place,” Professor Bentley said.
She added: “The El Niño doesn’t make rainfall certain but it pushes the weather into the right direction.
“Most importantly, rain needs to fall in England and Wales – the drought regions – as these are the parts of the country that need it.”
Widespread hosepipe bans could stay in place for foreseeable
As of October 2026, temporary use bans (TUBs) affecting almost 30 million people remained in force across England.
None have been lifted within the past month, with water companies continuing to progress drought permits and orders.
The following 10 water companies in England had active hosepipe bans as of this month:
- Affinity Water – Central and East regions, covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex.
- Anglian Water – Whole company area, excluding Hartlepool.
- Bristol Water – Whole company area.
- Cambridge Water – Whole company area.
- Essex and Suffolk Water – Whole company area.
- Southern Water – Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- South East Water – Whole company area.
- South West Water – Whole company area, excluding Bournemouth.
- Thames Water – Whole company area.
- Wessex Water – Whole company area.
TUBs, commonly known as hosepipe bans, are a legal restriction enforced by water companies to temporarily limit non-essential domestic water use during periods of drought or severe water shortages.
Professor Bentley said that unless the UK has a “significant amount of rainfall” this winter, the hosepipe bans are likely to stay in place for the foreseeable future.
Affinity Water has banned residents from watering gardens, washing cars and even cleaning their windows and patios.
Wessex Water declared its first hosepipe ban in 50 years from 18 August, affecting 1.4 million customers. It is the first restrictions imposed by the company since the 1976 drought.
Government action
On Monday, the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that a new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce will launch this week to strengthen the nation’s ability to mitigate and respond to extreme weather.
Water Minister Emma Hardy will unite with more than 50 organisations in this new group, including the Environment Agency, mayoral authorities and the farming and water industry.
Hardy, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, said: “Long term resilience is a priority for this government.
“We’re facing extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined, but the government is taking decisive action.
“We’re taking a smarter, more joined up approach to manage the nation’s water and are backing that ambition with historic investment.”
The new taskforce is expected to share expertise to support a longer-term resilience strategy for flood and drought in order to help local communities and the economy.
Defra has allocated £65m to drought-hit farmers as particular attention has been dedicated to the agricultural sector to help build its resilience over the winter period.
A further £100m will boost the country’s capacity to respond to extreme weather.