Photo Shutterstock The water crisis in Britain is escalating: The British government announced today (Thursday, October 15, 2026) an official declaration of a severe drought in parts of southern England, after a prolonged period of low rainfall, extreme heat, and a significant drop in reservoir levels.
The decision was made after southeast and southwest England recorded the driest period between April and September in more than a century.
The new declaration applies to parts of six counties: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.
These areas include some of the most popular holiday and nature destinations in England, with coastal stretches, picturesque towns, nature reserves, and tourist sites that attract many visitors every year.
Despite the severity of the situation, the government emphasizes that, at this stage, water supply to consumers is expected to continue without interruption, and that the goal of the new measures is to prevent deterioration that could lead to future disruptions.
82% of England is suffering from drought, and some areas need much more rain
In another announcement, the British Environment Agency said the drought is already affecting large parts of England.
82% of the country's territory is currently defined as suffering from drought, with water reservoirs in some areas at exceptionally low levels for the season.
The agency warns that to restore the water supply in some areas, precipitation reaching 120% of the normal average will be required over the next six months.
The water shortage is due to a combination of unusually hot and dry summers, record temperatures, and prolonged periods of low rainfall.
Even with the arrival of autumn, the expected seasonal rains have not yet arrived in sufficient volume, and forecasts indicate the possibility of continued dry weather for the remainder of October.
Following the announcement, the British government ordered water companies in the affected areas to increase preparedness and implement additional measures to maintain water supplies.
Among the measures announced by the government:
Daily monitoring of water levels in reservoirs and rivers, alongside stricter supervision of water quality.
Increased testing for businesses that draw water from natural sources, to ensure that they do not exceed permitted amounts.
Activating local resilience and emergency mechanisms to enable rapid assistance if necessary.
Prioritizing the protection of public water supplies in affected areas, including the possibility of conserving more water in reservoirs located at low levels.
The measures are being carried out in coordination between the government, water companies, local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's official clarification, a severe drought declaration is the highest level of drought in the declaration system, but does not automatically trigger new water restrictions or declare a civil emergency.
However, water companies may take additional water-saving measures if conditions continue to worsen.
Options mentioned by the agency include restrictions on certain water uses, reductions in water pressure, and, in some cases, even supply disruptions.
It is important to emphasize that these are possible steps, and not an announcement of their immediate implementation.
For tourists visiting England, no travel restrictions or general closures of tourist attractions have been announced in the current announcement. However, visitors to affected areas are advised to keep up to date with local guidance, particularly if water restrictions are announced in the future.
Britain's Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, Dame Angela Eagle, addressed the seriousness of the situation and clarified that the government is increasing preparations in cooperation with water companies to protect the public's water supply.
Eagle said this is a level of drought not seen in decades, and urged the public to use water responsibly over the coming weeks.
The Director-General of the Environment Agency, Philip Duffy, stressed that the unusual heat and severe drought had put heavy pressure on water sources, and that recovery depended on both rainfall and water consumption.
Alongside the immediate measures, the government is also presenting a long-term plan to strengthen the country's water infrastructure. The plan includes £104 billion in investments to upgrade water infrastructure, along with the construction of nine new large reservoirs across the country.
The government also plans to push through changes to planning rules to make it easier to build more reservoirs and strengthen Britain's ability to cope with prolonged periods of drought.
The decisions come amid increasing pressure on the British water economy, after months of unusually dry and hot weather.
According to the Environment Agency, some areas of England need higher-than-average rainfall to restore water levels to normal, meaning that even if rain returns in the coming weeks, reservoir recovery may not be rapid.
At this stage, authorities continue to closely monitor water reservoirs, rivers, and precipitation, while preparing for the possibility that the drought will continue and even worsen.
For Britain, it is now not just about dealing with an exceptionally dry summer, but about trying to prevent the ongoing water crisis from becoming a real threat to public water supplies.