Six dry months in a row, and reservoirs less than half full
What happened
On 2 October 2026, the Environment Agency confirmed that September was England's sixth consecutive month of below-average rainfall. Across England, September brought 65% of normal rainfall. The regional picture was worse in the east and south: - eastern England: 52% of normal - South East: 57% - central England: 59% - South West: 69% Reservoir storage nationally is now less than half full. For this point in the year, the expected figure is 74.3%. Two reservoirs show how severe it is locally: Ardingly in West Sussex at 23%, and Wimbleball in Somerset at 21%. Southern and central England are worst affected, with the south east and east the driest. The Environment Agency's chief executive, Philip Duffy, said: "The drought is far from over. We all need to use water wisely." Water Minister Emma Hardy used the figures to argue for change: "This is further evidence that fundamental reform is needed to make the water sector deliver for the public interest." On the same day, the Environment Agency granted South East Water a drought permit for Ardingly Reservoir, which supplies 280,000 customers. It reduces the compensation flow released into Shell Brook, a tributary of the River Ouse, from four megalitres a day to one. The permit runs for six months, until 29 March 2027. Richard O'Callaghan, Environment Planning Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Granting any drought permit is not a decision done lightly. We take great care weighing up the needs of the environment and will continue keeping a close eye on river conditions."
Why this matters
Here is the figure that puts the rest in perspective. To come out of drought by spring 2027, England needs 120% of average rainfall over seven months. Not average. A fifth more than average, sustained for more than half a year. That is a demanding ask, and it means this is not a situation that will be quietly fixed by a wet fortnight. Reservoirs are the stored buffer between a dry summer and a functioning water supply. At under half full going into autumn, that buffer is thin at the very point in the year when it should be refilling. For readers in Lincolnshire, the eastern England figure of 52% of normal rainfall is the one that matters. The east had the driest September of any region. This is farming country, and a dry autumn affects autumn-sown crops, grass growth and the cost of animal feed - which eventually reaches food prices. The Ardingly permit shows the trade-off being made in real time. Reducing the flow into Shell Brook protects drinking water for 280,000 people, and does so at a cost to the brook and the wildlife in it. The Environment Agency's own language - "not a decision done lightly" - is an acknowledgement that something is being given up. Ardingly was at 23% on 28 September. That is the lowest level on record for that reservoir at that time of year.
What the evidence actually says
A few things worth getting straight. "Less than half full" is a national average. Individual reservoirs vary enormously - some are far lower, as Ardingly at 23% and Wimbleball at 21% show, and others are in better shape. Your local situation is not the national figure. Drought is not only about rainfall. It is about rainfall relative to what is normal for the time of year, how much soil can absorb, how much reaches rivers and reservoirs, and how much is being taken out. Rain that falls hard on dry, compacted ground runs off instead of soaking in, which is why summer thunderstorms help less than steady autumn rain. A drought permit is temporary and conditional. The Ardingly permit lasts six months and comes with monitoring. South East Water applied on 28 August, and a public hearing was held on 18 September where people could raise concerns. The Environment Agency was clear that the permit alone will not secure supply, and urged the company to use other measures in its drought plan - including removing exemptions from temporary use bans. Non-essential use bans are already being applied in some areas. Rules differ between water companies, so check yours rather than assuming. And spring 2027 is a projection based on rainfall needed, not a forecast of what will happen.
Practical advice
Household use is a modest share of total water use, but it is the share you control, and small habits repeated by millions of people add up. 1. Check your water company's current restrictions. Rules on hosepipes and non-essential use vary by company and change as conditions change. Your supplier's website is the authority, not a neighbour's recollection. 2. Fix the leaks you can see. A dripping tap or a running overflow wastes a surprising volume. Many water companies will fix a supply pipe leak free of charge - ask. 3. Shorten showers before anything else. It is the single biggest easy saving in most homes. A four-minute shower uses roughly half the water of an eight-minute one. 4. Only run full loads. Washing machines and dishwashers use close to the same water whether half or fully loaded. 5. Put a water butt under a downpipe now, before the autumn rain. Free water for the garden next spring, when restrictions may still apply. 6. Ask about a water meter if you are not on one. For small households it often reduces bills. If you have high essential water use for a medical reason, ask your supplier about assistance schemes such as WaterSure. 7. If you rely on water for health reasons - home dialysis, for example - tell your water company and join the Priority Services Register so you are on the list for support during any interruption.
What to know
September 2026 was England's sixth consecutive month of below-average rainfall, with 65% of normal rain nationally - and just 52% in eastern England, 57% in the South East, 59% in central England and 69% in the South West. Reservoir storage nationally is below half full, against an expected 74.3% for the time of year. Ardingly in West Sussex stands at 23% and Wimbleball in Somerset at 21%. England needs 120% of average rainfall over seven months to leave drought by spring 2027. On 2 October the Environment Agency granted South East Water a six-month drought permit for Ardingly, cutting compensation flow to Shell Brook from four megalitres a day to one, to protect supply for 280,000 customers. Check your own water company's restrictions, fix visible leaks, and if you depend on water for medical reasons, join the Priority Services Register. Sources: Environment Agency, "England's reservoirs continue to feel drought strain after sixth dry month of 2026", 2 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/englands-reservoirs-continue-to-feel-drought-strain-after-sixth-dry-month-of-2026 ; Environment Agency, "Drought permit granted to help Ardingly Reservoir", 2 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drought-permit-granted-to-help-ardingly-reservoir This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional. For water supply questions, contact your water company or the Environment Agency.
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