Research and analysis

Midlands water situation: June 2025 summary

Updated 15 July 2025

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. Summary

Please see Section 7.3 of the main report for a map detailing the Midlands regional coverage.

Rainfall - In June, all Midlands hydrological catchments received less than 75% of their long term average (LTA) rainfall, except for the Welsh Mountains. The amount of rainfall received varied across the region, with the driest in the east and wettest in the west.

Soil moisture deficit - Soil moisture deficit (SMD) across the Midlands has largely decreased in June meaning soils have become drier. By the end of the month, soils remain drier than expected for the time of year.

River flows - In June, 7 sites recorded exceptionally low, 5 sites recorded notably low, 3 sites recorded below normal and 4 sites recorded normal monthly mean flows. No data is available for Worksop and Wedderburn Bridge.

Groundwater levels - As of the end of June, the majority of the Midlands groundwater sites recorded normal or higher groundwater levels compared to the LTA. The majority of sites had a decrease in groundwater levels since May.

Reservoir stocks - By the end of June, most Midlands reservoirs had below average storage compared to the LTA with Tittesworth, Blithfield, Charnwood and Derwent below 60% storage.

2. Rainfall

In June, all Midlands hydrological catchments received less than 75% of their LTA rainfall, except for the Welsh Mountains. The Welsh Mountains received above normal rainfall at 115% of the LTA. The Mid Severn, Lower Wye and Lower Severn catchments in the western half of the Midlands received normal rainfall totals relative to the LTA. Seven hydrological catchments received below normal rainfall totals ranging from 31% to 57% of the LTA. These were the Shropshire Plains, Upper Trent, Dove, Derwent, Lower Trent, Tame and Avon catchments, largely situated in the eastern half of the Midlands. Only 1 catchment, the Soar, received notably low rainfall totals relative to the LTA.

Over the last 3 months, 7 hydrological catchments in the Midlands received exceptionally low rainfall totals ranging from 41% to 54% of their 3 month LTA. Among them, the Lower Trent and Avon catchments recorded their driest 3 month cumulative rainfall totals since records began. The remaining 5 catchments also recorded 3 month cumulative rainfall totals that were ranked within the top 8 driest.

Over the last 6 months, all catchments either received exceptionally low or notably low cumulative rainfall totals relative to their 6 month LTA. Catchments in the eastern half of the Midlands were drier than catchments in the western half of the Midlands.

Looking at the last 12 months’ rainfall total combined, rainfall has been normal for the majority of the catchments in Midlands. The only exception being the Derwent which recorded below normal cumulative rainfall total of 85% of the 12 month LTA.

3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge

Soil moisture deficit across the Midlands has largely decreased since last month meaning soils have become drier. With the exception of the Welsh Mountains, all hydrological catchments recorded a SMD between 101mm to 130mm. The Welsh Mountains recorded a SMD value between 71mm to 100mm meaning soils were slightly wetter than the other catchments in the Midlands.

By the end of June, SMD values were much larger than their respective LTA for the time of year, meaning soils are drier than expected for the time of year.

4. River flows

In June, 7 sites recorded exceptionally low monthly mean flows ranging from 26% to 52% of the LTA. These were Marston on Dove, Derby St Marys, North Muskham, Tenbury, Butts Bridge, Deerhurst and Ebley Mill flow sites. Five sites recorded notably low monthly mean flows. These were Great Bridgeford, Yoxall, Whatstandwell, Kegworth and Auckley situated in the north and north eastern patch of the Midlands. A further 3 sites, Walcot, Clifton Hall and Stareton recorded below normal. The remaining 4 sites recorded normal monthly mean flows. These were Llanyblodwel, Bewdley, Evesham and Redbrook.

Wedderburn Bridge has been showing unreliable data from September 2024 onwards, therefore, data has been removed from this report. No data is available for Worksop due to ongoing instrument issues at the site.

5. Groundwater levels   

As of the end of June, the majority of the Midlands groundwater sites recorded normal or higher groundwater levels compared to the LTA. The exception being Rider Point on the Carboniferous limestone which recorded below normal groundwater levels relative to the LTA. Southards Lane, St Mary’s Church and Ram Hall recorded normal groundwater levels by the end of June. A further 3 sites, Weir Farm, Four Crosses and Anthony’s Cross recorded above normal groundwater levels. The remaining 2 sites, Crossley Hill and Coxmoor on the Permo Triassic Sandstone in the north east, recorded notably high groundwater levels by the end of June.

Out of all reported groundwater sites, the majority of sites had a decrease in groundwater levels since May. The only exception was Southards Lane which recorded an increase in groundwater levels since May.

6. Reservoir stocks

By the end of June, the majority of the Midlands reservoirs had below average storage compared to the LTA. In particular, Tittesworth, Blithfield, Charnwood and Derwent reservoirs had below 60% storage by the end of June.

The majority of reservoirs in the Midlands experienced a reduction in storage since last month. However, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs in Wales had an increase in storage, likely due to the rainfall across the region. Storage for Elan Valley Reservoirs remained the same as last month.

7. Environmental impact 

East Midlands Area moved to prolonged dry weather (PDW) incident status on 15 May 2025 whilst West Midlands moved on 21 May 2025. We continue to work with water companies and other abstractors to manage water resources and take precautionary actions to ensure the needs of water users and the environment are met.

A number of low flow alleviation schemes are also active across the area.

8. River Severn operations

The River Severn is regulated to maintain a minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station. This ensures sufficient water flows along the river to support environmental and water supply requirements. Regulation is instigated when flows drop below a threshold. River Severn Regulation began on 9 May 2025 and as of the end of June, there have been 16 days of Severn Regulation so far.

9. River Wye operations

Following on from the previous month, River Wye Regulation continued throughout all of June.

For all of June, storage in the Ellan Valley reservoirs was below the release control line. In addition, for the majority of June, the flows at Rebdrook gauging station were below the regulation threshold. Between 15 June and 20 June, flows at Redbrook gauging station were above the regulation threshold but regulation releases were still in operation due to the ‘agreed 7 day delay to reducing releases to the licensed compensation rate’.

10. Water abstraction restrictions

As of the end of June there were 73 water abstraction licence restrictions in place across the Midlands affecting 288 licences in total.

Please refer to table 8.1 in the main report for a full list of water abstraction licence restrictions.

Author: Midlands Hydrology, midlandshydrology@environment-agency.gov.uk

Contact Details: 03708 506 506

Disclaimer: All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.