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The Environment Agency has declared an official state of drought in north-west England and Yorkshire. If dry conditions persist, other regions in England may face similar declarations.
Water companies are also reporting low water levels in eastern Scotland and parts of Wales.
Droughts can have widespread impacts on various aspects of life and the environment, including agriculture, natural ecosystems, and water usage.
This report examines the current situation across the UK, focusing on rainfall, river levels, and reservoir capacity, to assess the proximity of different areas to drought conditions.
While definitions of drought or water scarcity (as it’s known in Scotland) vary, a prolonged period of low rainfall is a key indicator.
The UK experienced its sixth driest spring since records began in 1836, with rainfall below normal across almost the entire country between March and May.
This has resulted in reduced replenishment of rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater reserves.
Continued lack of rainfall could strain water supplies for homes and businesses.
June saw slightly above-average rainfall for the UK overall, but distribution was uneven.
Northern Ireland, western Scotland, Wales, and south-west England experienced wetter-than-usual conditions, while central and eastern England and Scotland remained dry.
Long-term forecasts suggest drier-than-average conditions are likely to persist through much of July and potentially August, further increasing the risk of drought.
River flow monitors indicate that approximately three-quarters of monitored sites across the UK registered “below normal” or lower flows at the end of May.
Approximately one in five sites experienced “exceptionally low” flows.
Provisional data for June suggests little improvement.
Lucy Barker, a hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, notes that river flows at the end of June were comparable to or even below those observed during previous drought years such as 1976, 2011, 2018, and 2022 in many eastern, central, and southern regions.
Reservoirs play a vital role in water supply, particularly in northern England, Scotland, and Wales.
At the end of May, combined reservoir levels in England were at their lowest for that time of year in over 30 years of records.
Exceptionally low reservoir levels in the North East and North West were a significant factor in the drought declarations for Yorkshire and the North West.
While the primary cause is lack of rainfall, other factors can affect individual reservoirs.
Scottish Water reports that reservoirs in Scotland were at 79% capacity last week, below the normal level of 85% for this time of year, with eastern Scotland experiencing even lower levels.
Welsh Water reports that most reservoirs in Wales are around normal levels, although reservoirs serving Mid and South Ceredigion in west Wales are below average.
NI Water indicates that reservoir levels in Northern Ireland are about average.
Groundwater is a more significant source of water in south-east England than reservoirs.
Groundwater originates from rainfall and is stored naturally in underground rock formations called aquifers.
It accounts for a third of England’s water supply, with a higher proportion in the south and east.
The UK’s diverse geology influences the amount of water that can be stored underground.
Water flow rates vary depending on rock type, with some areas taking years to respond to current conditions.
This is the case in parts of south and east England, where groundwater levels are closer to normal.
Professor Alan MacDonald of the British Geological Survey explains that groundwater stores “respond more slowly to changes in the climate than rivers which is why they provide a useful buffer during periods of drought.”
As a result, groundwater droughts in the South typically develop more slowly but can be longer-lasting.
The effects of the dry conditions are already being felt by people and nature.
Rachel Hallos, vice-president of the National Farmers’ Union, told BBC News, “It’s quite shocking that we are still only [in early] July.”
“It’s like it’s the end of August when you look at the ground.”
Farmers have been forced to irrigate crops due to the lack of rainfall.
This increases their costs and further depletes water resources.
Mrs. Hallos expressed widespread concern about the months ahead.
She questioned, “What am I going to have to harvest? What am I going to have to feed my livestock over winter?”
Wildlife is also impacted by the dry conditions.
A spokesman from the bird protection charity RSPB said that ensuring adequate water supply to key wetland habitats is a major challenge for birds to have safe places to nest.
“We need to be thinking about making our sites more resilient to climate change, as these periods of prolonged dry weather become the norm.”
Even common garden birds like blackbirds are struggling to find worms and insects on parched lawns, according to the RSPB.
Droughts are complex phenomena with both natural and human causes.
The Met Office projects that the UK will experience drier summers on average in the future due to global warming, although no clear trend has been established to date.
Rising temperatures exacerbate the problem by increasing evaporation and depleting soil moisture.
Richard Allan, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, explained, “A warmer atmosphere is thirstier for moisture and this can mean water in the soil, rivers and reservoirs are depleted more effectively, leading to more rapidly onsetting droughts, heatwaves and wildfires.”
Water usage also plays a crucial role in determining whether dry conditions lead to water shortages.
To address potential water shortages, the government plans to construct nine new reservoirs in England by 2050, in addition to the one currently under construction at Havant Thicket in Hampshire.
However, the Environment Agency has warned that measures such as reducing water leaks and controlling water demand, potentially through hosepipe bans and increased use of smart meters, may also be necessary in England.
Water companies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also stated that they are taking steps to ensure future water supplies.
Additional reporting by Dan Wainwright and Christine Jeavans
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