Drought and water availability

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Services

• Water resources licence application forms

  Use these forms to apply for a water resources licence.

• Form WR80: application for a drought permit

  Application form for a drought permit for water companies in England and Wales.

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Guidance and regulation

• Check if you need a licence to abstract water
  • Detailed guide
  • 5 May 2026
  • Environment Agency
• Apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
  • Detailed guide
  • 2 March 2026
  • Environment Agency
• Get advice before you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
  • Detailed guide
  • 28 April 2026
  • Environment Agency
• Check if you need a licence to impound water
  • Detailed guide
  • 25 June 2025
  • Environment Agency
• Water resources planning guideline
  • Guidance
  • 2 April 2026
  • Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, and The Water Services Regulation Authority

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News and communications

• South East Water given £76,000 penalty for water supply breach
  • 29 April 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Press release
• UK-backed fund supports early action on drought in Guatemala
  • 1 April 2026
  • World news story
• England recovered from drought as weather whiplash sees floods
  • 23 March 2026
  • Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Met Office
  • Press release
• Rain helps West Country recover from prolonged dry weather
  • 18 December 2025
  • Environment Agency
  • Press release
• Yorkshire moves into drought recovery following recent rain
  • 10 December 2025
  • Environment Agency
  • Press release

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Research and statistics

• Rainfall and river flow: weekly reports for England
  • 14 May 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Water situation: area monthly reports for England
  • 13 May 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Water situation: national monthly reports for England 2026
  • 11 May 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• Dry weather and drought in England: summary reports
  • 27 March 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Research
• 2025 drought: how it developed in England
  • 26 January 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

• Water resources planning guideline update
  • 8 May 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 05 December 2025
• Drought: how it is managed in England – proposed updated response framework
  • 3 April 2025
  • Environment Agency
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 10 January 2025
• National Framework for Water Resources 2025: water for growth, nature and a resilient future
  • 15 April 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Policy paper
• Drought: how it is managed in England
  • 8 April 2026
  • Environment Agency
  • Policy paper
• Desalination for public water supply: Environment Agency position statement
  • 8 October 2025
  • Environment Agency
  • Policy paper

See more policy papers and consultations in this topic

Organisations

• Department
  for Environment,
  Food & Rural Affairs
• Foreign, Commonwealth
  & Development Office
• Ministry of Housing,
  Communities &
  Local Government
• Government
  Actuary's
  Department
• Independent Water Commission

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• Environment Agency
• Natural England
• Accelerated Capability Environment