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Following a prolonged period of hot, dry weather, the Environment Agency has declared a drought in the East and West Midlands, adding to existing drought conditions in the North West and Yorkshire.
This announcement comes after England experienced its driest start to the year since 1976, resulting in significantly reduced water levels in many rivers across the Midlands.
The drought declaration serves as a public indication that water companies may implement water usage restrictions, potentially including hosepipe bans, which have already been initiated for millions of residents in Yorkshire.
While droughts are primarily driven by natural weather patterns, the Environment Agency emphasizes that climate change and increasing water consumption are exacerbating the risk of water shortages.
The National Drought Group, comprised of representatives from the Environment Agency (EA), government bodies, the Met Office, water companies, and other stakeholders, is responsible for managing drought preparedness in England.
The group convened on Tuesday morning, announcing an escalation of its response and noting a deterioration in conditions across the Midlands since early June.
Currently, most of England is classified as experiencing prolonged dry weather—the level preceding drought—with the exception of portions of the South West, East, and South East regions.
Official drought declarations have not been issued in Northern Ireland or Wales, although Mid and South Ceredigion in west Wales are experiencing “developing drought” conditions.
Scotland does not formally declare droughts but monitors “water scarcity.” Parts of eastern Scotland are currently under “moderate” scarcity—the second-highest category—indicating a “clear” environmental impact.
England lacks a singular definition of drought, but it is generally characterized by an extended period of low rainfall, which subsequently affects nature, agriculture, and water supplies.
The country experienced its driest spring in over a century, followed by its warmest June on record.
Successive heatwaves in June and July further intensified conditions, leading to increased moisture evaporation from the soil.
Despite recent rainfall in some areas, it is unlikely to sufficiently restore water levels to normal across the nation.
Satellite imagery reveals the extent of the dry conditions, with much of England appearing significantly browner than usual.
These parched conditions have significant repercussions for both natural ecosystems and agricultural practices.
Standhill Farm in Derbyshire has recorded its lowest rainfall levels in 25 years. Farmer Robert Thornhill has meticulously tracked precipitation and grass growth on his dairy farm for the past 24 years.
“It has been by far the driest spring by a long way,” Mr. Thornhill stated. “The first quarter of this year was 50% drier than the next driest measurement I’ve taken.”
He added, “Less precipitation means less grass growth.” Consequently, limited grass availability has forced him to restrict grazing for his 250-strong herd to overnight hours.
During the day, the herd consumes silage—fermented grass harvested from the farm last year—typically reserved for winter feed. While this measure allows the cows to seek shelter in a barn away from the sun, it depletes his reserves.
As a result, Mr. Thornhill reports a nearly 10% decline in milk yield, significantly impacting revenues.
The River Derwent in the East Midlands, a water source for three million people, has reached its lowest level on record.
While this does not necessarily mean households will face water shortages, the low river levels are posing serious environmental challenges.
Matt Gable of the EA in the East Midlands described the situation as “absolutely concerning,” noting that fish stocks are already suffering.
He stated, “[The rivers] are such an important part of the ecosystem, and clearly it’s not an aquatic ecosystem at the moment when there’s no water in it.”
“So the longer it goes on, the more the more problematic it will be, and we’re starting to see these impacts increase now as climate change begins to bite.”
The EA’s drought declarations in England are based on assessments of reservoir levels, river flows, soil dryness, and long-term weather forecasts.
England is currently in a more favorable position than during the severe drought of 1976, which was preceded by a dry 1975. In contrast, 2024 saw higher water levels.
However, the EA projects that, under a “reasonable worst-case scenario”—where regions receive 80% of their long-term average rainfall—another three regions across central, eastern, and southern England could face drought status by September.
Current long-term forecasts indicate approximately normal rainfall levels for the coming months.
Even if additional droughts are declared, hosepipe bans will not automatically be imposed, but they often follow.
Hosepipe bans are already in effect for millions of people in Yorkshire.
Bans in other regions, including parts of Kent, Sussex, and the Thames region, will be implemented in the second half of the month, although these areas are not currently designated as drought zones.
According to evidence presented to the National Drought Group, further drought measures, including additional hosepipe bans, may be necessary by some water companies without significant rainfall.
The group emphasizes the vital role of public participation in reducing water consumption in homes and gardens, while urging water companies to address leakages.
Water Minister Emma Hardy stated, “It’s about everyone playing a part, whether that’s members of the public [or] water companies, everyone working together to deal with this, because we have had one of the driest starts to the year in 50 years.”
The EA cautioned last month that England’s water supplies could face a shortfall of six billion litres a day by 2055 without significant interventions, driven by rising temperatures, population growth, and other factors.
Climate change is anticipated to lead to drier summers on average, while more frequent and intense heatwaves will exacerbate water loss through evaporation.
Additional reporting by Jess Carr, Phil Leake and Muskeen Liddar
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