England Braces for Worst Drought in Decades as Reservoirs Run Critically Low

England Braces for Worst Drought in Decades as Reservoirs Run Critically Low
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England is preparing for what could become its most severe drought in decades, as government agencies and water companies draw up emergency response plans amid forecasts of another unusually dry winter, The Guardian reported on Saturday.

Executives from one major water company told the newspaper they were “extremely concerned” about the worsening outlook, with the UK Met Office predicting below-average rainfall over the coming months. If conditions fail to improve, authorities may impose sweeping water-use restrictions that extend far beyond traditional hosepipe bans.

Although England experienced drought conditions this past summer, residual water from wetter months initially helped maintain reservoir and groundwater levels. However, several months of record dry weather have sharply depleted reserves. National reservoir storage has now dropped to around 63%, compared to a typical seasonal average of 76%, while some reservoirs in southern England have fallen below 30% capacity.

Groundwater replenishment — a process that occurs more slowly than surface reservoir recovery — remains critically low, raising alarms among water experts.

In parts of southern England, utilities have already requested stricter limits on non-essential business water use, including bans on building washing and pool filling.

Alastair Chisholm, policy director at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, warned that “a second consecutive dry winter is when things start to get serious” for the UK’s water security. Without substantial rainfall this winter and spring, England could face widespread drought orders, tightened restrictions, and further ecological damage to rivers and wetlands.

Experts have also pointed to long-term structural issues, including population growth, hotter summers linked to climate change, and the absence of major new reservoir projects — none built in over 30 years — as key factors leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to recurring droughts.