UK drought & reservoir tracker
How full England's reservoirs are, and which areas the Environment Agency has flagged for prolonged dry weather — updated from the EA's water situation reports.
Are we in a drought right now?
Yes — 11 areas of England are officially in drought, as declared by the Environment Agency. Reservoirs across England are 54% full, below the long-term average of 76% for this point in the year.
From the Environment Agency’s latest water situation report (week of 16 to 22 October 2026). Drought is declared by region, not nationally — and hosepipe bans are a separate decision taken by each water company, so you can face restrictions without an official drought.
What the official drought stages mean
England doesn’t simply flip between “fine” and “drought”. The Environment Agency moves through a sequence of stages, and knowing which one you’re in tells you what tends to happen next:
Normal — rainfall, river flows and reservoir stocks sit within their usual range for the time of year.
Prolonged dry weather — the early-warning stage. Rainfall has been below average long enough to show up in rivers, groundwater or reservoirs, and monitoring steps up. Restrictions often start being discussed here.
Drought — declared for a region once the shortfall becomes significant. Expect hosepipe bans, and limits on what farms and businesses can abstract.
Severe drought — the most serious stage, where supply itself is at risk and stronger measures such as non-essential use bans come into play.
The marker shows the long-term average for this time of year (76%).
Areas in drought
As listed in the Environment Agency’s report (week of 16 to 22 October 2026) — the latest we have been able to read.
Areas in prolonged dry weather
The early-warning stage, from the same report (week of 16 to 22 October 2026).
Source: Environment Agency — Dry weather and drought in England (weekly summary) — week of 16 to 22 October 2026. "Prolonged dry weather" is the Environment Agency's formal status that precedes drought; "drought" is declared per EA area. Always check your own water company for local restrictions.
Common questions
Are we in a drought in the UK right now?
Yes — 11 areas of England are officially in drought as declared by the Environment Agency, with reservoirs 54% full.
What is the current UK drought status?
The Environment Agency publishes a weekly water situation report for England. In the latest one (week of 16 to 22 October 2026), reservoir stocks stand at 54% against a long-term average of 76%, with 3 areas in prolonged dry weather and 11 in official drought. Status is set regionally, not for the whole country.
What are the drought levels in order?
Normal, then prolonged dry weather (the early-warning stage, where the Environment Agency steps up monitoring), then drought (declared regionally — usually bringing hosepipe bans and abstraction limits), then severe drought, where supplies themselves are at risk. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use their own frameworks.
Can there be a hosepipe ban without an official drought?
Yes, and it happens often. Hosepipe bans — formally 'temporary use bans' — are decided by each water company based on its own reservoir and river levels, not by the Environment Agency's drought status. You can face a ban while your region is only in prolonged dry weather.
How full are England's reservoirs right now?
Reservoir stocks are 54% of capacity in the latest Environment Agency report, below the long-term average of 76% for this point in the year. This page updates automatically as new reports are published.
Will I get money off my water bill during a hosepipe ban?
No. Southern Water's code of practice, for example, says it doesn't offer rebates during a temporary use ban “as we don't charge customers for using a hosepipe”. Payments only come in if restrictions go much further. If an emergency drought order interrupts or cuts off essential household water (for cooking, washing, drinking and flushing the toilet), water companies in England and Wales are required by their licences to pay household customers £10 for each day or part day, up to the company's average household bill for the previous year. That doesn't cover watering the garden, washing the car or filling a pool, and nothing is owed if Ofwat judges the circumstances so exceptional that the company couldn't reasonably have avoided the interruption.
Can I get free water-saving devices from my water company?
Often, yes. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) says most water companies offer free water-saving devices, such as strips that show a leaking toilet, shower timers and water-efficient shower heads. Ring your company and ask, or use the Get Water Fit tool on CCW's website (run by Save Water Save Money), which asks for your postcode and a few questions and shows where you could save. If you're on a water meter, using less water also cuts your bill.
Sources for the last two answers: Southern Water, Code of Practice for household customers (October 2025) · CCW, Get Water Fit (tool run by Save Water Save Money) · CCW, Tips to cut your water bill.
| Sat 24 Oct | 54% | |
| Sun 18 Oct | 54% | |
| Mon 12 Oct | 54% | |
| Fri 2 Oct | 55% | |
| Sat 26 Sept | 56.4% | |
| Fri 18 Sept | 56.1% | |
| Fri 11 Sept | 56.9% |
See all 59 days
| Mon 7 Sept | 58% | |
| Sun 6 Sept | 58% | |
| Sat 5 Sept | 58% | |
| Fri 4 Sept | 58% | |
| Thu 3 Sept | 59.8% | |
| Wed 2 Sept | 59.8% | |
| Tue 1 Sept | 59.8% | |
| Mon 31 Aug | 59.8% | |
| Sun 30 Aug | 59.8% | |
| Sat 29 Aug | 59.8% | |
| Fri 28 Aug | 59.8% | |
| Thu 27 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Wed 26 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Tue 25 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Mon 24 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Sun 23 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Sat 22 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Fri 21 Aug | 62.6% | |
| Thu 20 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Wed 19 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Tue 18 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Mon 17 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Sun 16 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Sat 15 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Fri 14 Aug | 65.9% | |
| Thu 13 Aug | 69% | |
| Wed 12 Aug | 69% | |
| Tue 11 Aug | 69% | |
| Mon 10 Aug | 69% | |
| Sun 9 Aug | 69% | |
| Sat 8 Aug | 69% | |
| Fri 7 Aug | 69% | |
| Thu 6 Aug | 72% | |
| Wed 5 Aug | 72% | |
| Tue 4 Aug | 72% | |
| Mon 3 Aug | 72% | |
| Sun 2 Aug | 72% | |
| Sat 1 Aug | 72% | |
| Fri 31 Jul | 72% | |
| Thu 30 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Wed 29 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Tue 28 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Mon 27 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Sun 26 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Sat 25 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Fri 24 Jul | 75.3% | |
| Thu 23 Jul | 78.8% | |
| Wed 22 Jul | 78.8% | |
| Tue 21 Jul | 78.8% | |
| Mon 20 Jul | 78.8% | |
| Sun 19 Jul | 82.9% | |
| Sat 18 Jul | 82.9% |
Free alerts for your home
Home Alerts emails you when a power cut, a Met Office warning or a flood warning covers your postcode. Free for your own home. Sign up in a minute.
Start free →