Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 25 September to 1 October 2026

Updated 2 October 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

Much of England has had another dry week, with the wettest conditions in north-west and south-west England. England has received 65% of the long-term average (LTA) rainfall total for the month. River flows decreased at nearly two-thirds of sites, with almost all sites now classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. The seasonal decline of groundwater levels continued at many sites, with the majority classed as normal or lower for the time of year. Reservoir storage fell at almost all reservoirs or reservoir groups, and storage for England was 55%. Sixteen reservoirs or reservoir groups are now less than half full, with 6 classed as exceptionally low. 

There has been no change to drought status across Environment Agency areas this week. Ten areas are in drought status and the remainder in prolonged dry weather status.

Water demand is relatively stable due to cooler temperatures, rainfall and the implementation of temporary use bans (TUBs), although it remains above expected levels in some areas. Public water supply reservoir and groundwater storage continues to decline for several water companies, although for some the rate of decline has slowed. Further significant rainfall is needed to return to normal water resource conditions for many water companies. The TUBs in place have not changed since last week and around 30 million people are still affected. Water companies continue to progress drought permits and orders. Public water supply concerns are currently focused around Wimbleball reservoir in the south-west and Ardingly reservoir in the south-east.

The agriculture sector has seen the peak irrigation season pass, though this is geographically variable depending on rainfall received. There are 767 restrictions on abstraction licences. There are 1,383 voluntary restrictions in place reducing abstraction by 50%. Restrictions are spread across Thames, Wye and Severn catchments. There is an increasing number of flexible abstraction requests, with 40 requests from the agriculture sector to date. The Environment Agency released a regulatory position statement (RPS 382) on 1 October. This will allow existing abstraction licence holders to take water outside of their authorised abstraction period for filling water storage reservoirs subject to specified conditions.

The Canal & River Trust water resource position remains poor. There has been a reduction in the number of canal restrictions and closures, but overall most canals have seen no significant recovery yet.

Environmental impacts, including low flows, water quality issues, algal blooms and fish mortality, are starting to decrease with the cooler weather. Confirmed incidents so far in 2026 now exceed totals for 2022 and 2025. Recent incidents include no flow in the River Ouseburn (Tyne catchment), and blue-green algae continuing to affect a 10km stretch of the Lower Thames including the Ham and Kingston bathing water.

The Environment Agency remains focused on its drought response and continues to hold regular National Drought Group meetings. The next scheduled meeting is on 19 October and there will be an additional meeting before then.

2. Active temporary use bans (TUBs)

The following companies have implemented TUBs, in all or part of their supply areas:

• 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

New Appointment and Variations (NAVs) are made by Ofwat under The Water Industry Act 1991 to allow another water undertaker to supply sites within an existing water undertaker’s area. Companies operating as a NAV have the same responsibilities as other water companies to produce drought plans. NAVs can have their own sources of supply but are mainly supplied by bulk supply agreements with the water undertaker in the area.

This is the first week that NAV TUBs are included within our Dry weather and drought in England reports. However, the TUBs themselves were introduced at the same time as their respective incumbent companies.

The NAVs with TUBs are as follows:

• Leaf Water – in areas supplied by South East Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, and Cambridge Water
• Albion Water – in areas supplied by Thames Water
• Leep Water – in areas supplied by South East Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water, Bristol Water, and Essex and Suffolk Water
• Independent Water Networks – in areas supplied by South East Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water, Bristol Water, Cambridge Water, and Essex and Suffolk Water
• Last Mile Water – in areas supplied by South East Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water, Thames Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Wessex Water and Bristol Water
• MUA – in areas supplied by Affinity Water and Anglian Water
• ESP – in areas supplied by Bristol Water, Wessex Water, Thames Water, South East Water, Affinity Water and Anglian Water
• Matrix – in areas supplied by Thames Water

Further information can be found on each company’s website.

3. Area drought status

There have been no changes in area drought status this week.

Figure 1: Environment Agency drought status

3.1 Areas in drought

• East Anglia
• Hertfordshire and North London
• Thames
• Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
• West Midlands
• Wessex
• Kent and South London
• Solent and South Downs
• East Midlands
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire

3.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

• Northeast
• Yorkshire
• Cumbria and Lancashire
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire

3.3 How the stages of drought response work

Each area is reviewing its status depending on the triggers they have outlined in their drought plan.

More detail of how we manage drought, including our 4 stages of drought response, is available in Drought: how it is managed in England.

4. Current water situation

It was another dry week for much of England, with rainfall totals ranging from 1mm in east England, to 12mm in north-west and south-west England. Rainfall totals for September were around half of the LTA for the month in east and south-east England. In contrast, north-west England reached 99% of the LTA rainfall. England as a whole received 65% of the LTA for September.

River flows decreased at around two-thirds of sites we report on when compared to the previous week. All sites were classed as normal or lower for the time of year. Seven sites (13% of the total) were classed as normal and 25 sites (45%) were classed as below normal. Sixteen sites (29%), found across central and southern England were classed as notably low. Seven sites (13%) across England were classed as exceptionally low, from the River Coquet in the north-east, to the River Yare in east England and to the River Tone in the south-west.

Groundwater levels continue their expected seasonal decline at many sites, however, some sites in north-west and central England have seen small increases. Chalk aquifer sites are all normal or lower for the time of year, with a growing number now classed as notably or exceptionally low. Tilshead in the Upper Hampshire Avon Chalk and Chipstead in the Epsom North Downs Chalk are classed as exceptionally low. In the oolitic limestone of the Cotswolds, groundwater levels at Jackaments Bottom are classed as notably low.

Clywedog was the only reservoir to record an increase in storage this week, with all others declining as dry weather returned for much of the country. Overall, England storage was 55%, having fallen 1.5%, and is now 19.4% below average for the time of year. Sixteen reservoirs or reservoir groups are now less than 50% full, and all except one are now classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. Six reservoirs or reservoir groups are now classed as exceptionally low (Figure 2):

• Ardingly reservoir operated by South East Water
• Chew Valley reservoir operated by Bristol Water
• Clatworthy reservoir operated by Wessex Water
• Dove Group operated by Severn Trent Water, where winter refill was impacted by water quality and operational issues
• Hanningfield reservoir operated by Essex and Suffolk Water
• Wimbleball reservoir operated by South West Water

More details are available in our water situation reports for England.

Figure 2: Reservoir stocks at key individual and groups of reservoirs for week ending 29 September 2026 as a percentage of total capacity and classed relative to an analysis of historic values.

Classes shown may not necessarily relate to control curves or triggers for drought actions. As well as for public water supply, some reservoirs are drawn down to provide flood storage, river compensation flows or for reservoir safety.

Kielder reservoir levels are lower than historic levels due to a new flood alleviation control curve in use. The Dee System, Elan Valley Group, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs provide water resources to central and north-west England. Teesdale Group is impacted by planned maintenance and safety works. The Dove Group and Lower Thames Group are impacted by a previously planned outage.

5. Public water supply

Water demand is relatively stable as a result of cooler temperatures, rainfall and the implementation of TUBs. It remains above expected levels in some areas.

Public water supply reservoir and groundwater storage continue to decline for several water companies, although for some the rate of decline has slowed. Further significant rainfall is needed to return to normal water resource conditions for many water companies. 

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level (DL) 1 escalating to DL 4. We expect water companies to follow their drought plans and act early to ensure there are sufficient supplies.

We regularly engage with all water companies. The companies not included here are in business as usual (BAU). Further information on the situation can be found on each water company’s website.

5.1 Affinity Water

Affinity Water remains at BAU. Its East region has reached the company’s environmental trigger. TUBs remain in place for customers in its Central region and East region, driven by high demand.

5.2 Anglian Water

Anglian Water remains at DL2 in its Fenland and Norfolk, Norwich and Broads water resource zones (WRZ). Ruthamford, Lincolnshire and Suffolk remain at DL1. TUBs remain in place across the whole company area, except for Hartlepool.

5.3 Bristol Water

Bristol Water has moved to DL1. TUBs remain in place for all customers to help protect flows on the River Severn, after an application for a drought order by the Environment Agency.

5.4 Cambridge Water

Cambridge Water remains at DL1. TUBs remain in place for all its customers.

5.5 Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water remains at DL2 in all WRZs. TUBs remain in place for all its customers.

5.6 Northumbrian Water

Northumbrian Water remains at DL1 in all its WRZs.

5.7 Severn Trent Water

Severn Trent Water remains at DL2 in its North Staffs WRZ and in DL1 in its Strategic Grid North WRZ.

5.8 Southern Water

Southern Water is at DL1 in its Hampshire and Isle of Wight WRZs. Other WRZs remain at BAU. TUBs are still in force for customers in the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight area. The company applied to the Secretary of State for a drought order on the River Test and a non-essential drought order on 31 July. A public hearing was held on 25 August and additional information submitted on 27 August. We are awaiting the Secretary of State decision.

5.9 South East Water

South East Water has moved to DL3 in its Eastbourne and Haywards Heath WRZs. All other WRZs remain at DL1. Company-wide TUBs remain in force. The Environment Agency granted the company’s River Ouse (Ardingly reservoir) drought permit on 29 September.

5.10 South West Water

South West Water’s Colliford WRZ remains at DL1 and the Isle of Scilly remains at DL2. Roadford WRZ has moved to DL2 and Wimbleball moved to DL3. Other WRZs remain at BAU. TUBs remain in place for all South West Water customers, excluding Bournemouth. On 16 September, South West Water applied to the Environment Agency for a drought permit at Wimbleball to reduce the compensation flow.

Further information can be found on the company’s website.

5.11 South Staffordshire Water

South Staffordshire Water has moved to DL2.

5.12 Thames Water

Thames Water remains at DL2 in all its WRZs. Company-wide TUBs remain in force. The Environment Agency granted Thames Water’s Farmoor drought permit on 29 September.

5.13 United Utilities

United Utilities Strategic Resource Zone (SRZ) remains at DL1. Carlisle WRZ remains in BAU.

5.14 Veolia Water

Veolia Water moved to DL2 on 28 September. No TUBs are in place.

5.15 Wessex Water

Wessex Water remains at DL2. Reservoir storage continues to decline. Company-wide TUBs remain in force.

5.16 Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water remains at DL1 in its Grid WRZ.

6. Agriculture

With the peak irrigation season now passed and some welcome rainfall in September, pressures on the agriculture sector have reduced. There are still concerns around water availability for the autumn and winter season.

Concerns remain in some areas about the ability to refill storage reservoirs over the winter, with some reservoirs reported at 0% to 20% capacity. To support the sector to maximise opportunities to refill storage reservoirs over the winter, we released a regulatory position statement on 1 October. This will allow existing abstraction licence holders to take water outside of their authorised abstraction period. This is for the purpose of filling water storage reservoirs for subsequent use in spray or trickle irrigation. To read the RPS in full, see Abstraction outside the authorised period for filling water storage reservoirs: RPS 382.

Many rivers remain below normal for the time of year and consequently some licence restrictions remain in force to protect the environment. There are currently 767 restrictions on abstraction licences. This is an increase from last week (533) due to small decreases in river flows as the influence of early September rainfall recedes. Formal section 57 restrictions remain in place in parts of East Anglia until 31 October. There are 1,383 voluntary restrictions in place reducing abstraction by 50%. Restrictions are spread across Thames, Wye and Severn catchments.

We have received 40 flexible abstraction requests from the agriculture sector to date.

The Environment Agency continues to work closely with abstractors and partners regarding the implementation of any formal restrictions and supporting farmers to help improve water resilience. 

To protect rivers from pollution, farmers are advised to assess ground and weather conditions before spreading organic manures, including slurries.

7. Environment

The overall risk to the environment is decreasing, with numbers of confirmed incidents caused by drought and dry weather slowing in recent weeks in response to cooler and wetter conditions. However, the total number of 383 incidents recorded since the start of 2026 now exceeds the overall numbers for 2025 (321) and 2022 (380). Confirmed 2026 incidents will likely increase further due to reporting lags.

There have been 36 confirmed algae and 91 confirmed dead fish incidents attributed to drought and dry weather since the start of 2026. These figures are above the equivalent totals for 2025. A blue-green algae incident continues to affect a 10km stretch of the Lower Thames including the Ham and Kingston bathing water. Algae levels are now decreasing, and the Environment Agency is monitoring the need to remove staunch boards from weirs in line with flood risk.

There have been 177 confirmed abstraction or low flow incidents since the start of 2026, which is higher than the equivalent total from 2025. Highest numbers are reported in Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, East Anglia, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and North London, and Thames areas. In Northeast area, an environmental incident was recorded this week for the River Ouseburn (Tyne catchment) where the river dried up. Environment Agency staff attended the site to identify any impacts to fish or the wider catchment.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales applied for the River Severn Drought Order (RSDO) on 17 August 2026. An appeals hearing with an independent inspector was held on 3 September 2026. The RSDO has been put on hold due to improving levels in the Clywedog reservoir.

8. Navigation

The Canal & River Trust water resource position remains poor. The heatwaves this year have led to a rapid drawdown from water supply reservoirs due to high demands across the network. Rainfall has had a very modest positive impact and there has been a reduction in the number of canal restrictions and closures. Overall, most canals have seen no significant recovery. As such, there is no widespread easing of measures taken to control demands so far.

Reservoir-fed canals are particularly affected, with reservoir feeds being restricted and compensation flows reduced. Restrictions are now very unlikely to become closures with recent rainfall and reducing demands. The 14-day movement suspension will be lifted on 1 October 2026 and the Canal & River Trust is continuing its drought response and winter preparedness.

Environment Agency navigation closures have eased in parts of Yorkshire but remain in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and North London, and the Lower Thames. In Kent, fish and canoe passes have been closed on the River Medway with the lock restrictions that started in late August remaining in place. There are issues maintaining the published navigation depth at several locations on the Medway. Weed growth remains present in some areas. Several lock flights on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal have restricted operating hours, but the canal is otherwise open to navigation.

9. Weather forecast

Friday will bring bands of heavy rain that will move north-east across many areas, with more showers following in the north-west. Meanwhile, south-east England will remain largely dry. The weekend will be unsettled at times, with widespread rain. Brighter spells may develop and it will be warmer than average in the south. On Monday and Tuesday high pressure will remain dominant, bringing widespread dry weather across England. Nights may be chilly and fog may form in places.

10. Drought readiness actions

The Environment Agency has activated its incident response arrangements, with Gold Command structures in place and drought plans being implemented to support early intervention and coordinated action.

Enhanced communications activity being taken includes: 

• issuing press notices and holding media briefings
• increasing engagement with stakeholders, local partners and MPs
• publishing a weekly drought update on GOV.UK

The Environment Agency has strengthened environmental monitoring, increasing both surveillance and operational interventions to identify, assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts as drought conditions develop.

The National Drought Group continues to meet regularly to monitor risks, preparation and impacts of the ongoing drought. The next scheduled meeting is on 19 October and there will be an additional meeting before then (date to be confirmed).

11. Contact us

Contact drought.national@environment-agency.gov.uk if you have questions about this report.