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1. Summary

Patchy rain fell across England last week, with an average of 11mm bringing light relief to some parts of the country.

July was another month of below average rainfall with 89% of the long-term average. It was the driest March to July period since 1921 across central and north-east England. It was the equal fifth warmest July on record for England in a record starting in 1884. We are continuing to respond to the dry weather across the country.

There have been no changes to the Environment Agency’s drought status this week. The Environment Agency has applied for a drought order for Winterburn, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, on 7 August to protect the environment.

Water companies with temporary use bans (TUBs) are continuing to engage with their customers.  is reporting a 10% reduction in household use following the implementation of its TUB. Yorkshire Water’s reservoir levels are 44% full but continuing to drop. The Environment Agency is now determining 14 drought permits the company recently applied for.

Public water supply reservoir storage levels fell for most reported reservoirs. Stocks across England for the period ending 5 August 2025 were 67.7%, falling 2% in the week. Blithfield, Derwent Valley, Chew Valley, Blagdon, and Yorkshire’s overall stocks are all now less than half full, and the Pennines group stocks are 39% (3 Aug 2025). United Utilities is taking a range of supply and demand activities to conserve storage in the Pennines group to help conserve supplies.

The only change in water company status this week was for Anglian Water who moved its Ruthamford Central, North, South, and West zones into drought level 1. The company is continuing to review the need for permits.  

 Our main concerns for this summer remain with:

• Yorkshire Water
• parts of United Utilities
• South Staffordshire Water
• parts of Severn Trent Water
• parts of Thames Water
• parts of Southern Water
• South East Water due to high demands for water

We are seeing the impact of the dry weather on water resources and demand more broadly. We are closely monitoring the situation of Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Bristol Water, Northumbrian Water, Cambridge Water and Essex and Suffolk Water.

Restrictions on abstractions continue to be in place in catchments where hands-off flow conditions have been met. Due to low river flows, we are reviewing the need for Section 57 bans in parts of East Anglia.

Reports of environmental incidents continued to rise steadily throughout July. Incidents are widespread across the country, matching the extent of the drought impacts.

2. Area drought status

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

2.1Ìý´¡°ù±ð²¹²õ in drought

• Cumbria & Lancashire (CLA)
• Greater Manchester Merseyside & Cheshire (GMMC)
• Yorkshire (YOR)
• East Midlands (EMD)
• West Midlands (WMD)

2.2Ìý´¡°ù±ð²¹²õ in prolonged dry weather

• North East (NEA)
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire (LNA)
• East Anglia (EAN)
• Thames (THM)
• Wessex (WSX)
• Solent and South Downs (SSD)

2.3Ìý±á´Ç·É 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.

3.Ìý°ä³Ü°ù°ù±ð²Ô³Ù water situation

Rainfall for the first six months of the year was lowest in the north-east and east, with 58% and 60% of the long-term average (LTA) respectively. It was the driest March to July period since 1921 across central and north-east England. It was the equal fifth warmest July on record for England in a record starting in 1884.

Rainfall for July varied from 52% of the LTA across the south-west to 110% LTA across the south-east. Overall England received 89% LTA in July.

The week ending 5 August was wetter than the previous week across England, with 11mm of rainfall recorded. Rainfall totals ranged from 7mm in central and east England to 27mm in north-west. For the first five days of August, rainfall ranged from 23% of the August LTA in the north-west to 3% LTA in the south-east.

This week soil moisture deficits have largely increased across all areas except the north-west.

With a wetter week in some areas, it has been a mixed picture for river flows with slightly more (56%) receding compared to rising.

In total, 28 sites (51%) were classed as normal for the time of year, including all sites in the north-west. Among others, 15 sites (27%) were below normal, six (11%) were notably low, and three (River Wye on the Welsh border, River Severn in central England, and River Ely Ouse in east England) continued to record exceptionally low flows for the time of year. The monthly mean July flows in the River Wye and Ely Ouse were both the lowest on record for July.

Nationally reservoir storage levels fell by 2% during the past week to 67.7%. For the period ending 5 August 2025 the lowest reservoirs are Blithfield (49.1%), Derwent Valley (47.2%), Chew Valley Lake (48.3%) and Blagdon (46.3%). Yorkshire reservoirs are 44.3% now and the Pennines group are 39% (3 Aug 2025).

As we would expect at this time of year, groundwater levels are receding. Levels in the Chilterns, North Downs and across East Anglia are in their normal range. However, at the end of July the limestone aquifers in the Cotswolds were exceptionally low for the time of year, and levels in faster responding chalk aquifers are notably low in some areas, i.e. Yorkshire, Wessex and the Isle of Wight following the dry spring.

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

4.Ìý±Ê³Ü²ú±ô¾±³¦ water supply

Water companies continue to act, in line with their drought plans. 

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level 1 escalating to level 4.

4.1Ìý´¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²¹²Ô Water

Remains at drought level 1 in the following resource zones Fenland, Lincolnshire Central and Norfolk Norwich & the Broads. Ruthamford Central, North, South, and West zones have also now moved into drought level 1. The company continues to review the need for drought permit applications.

4.2Ìýµþ°ù¾±²õ³Ù´Ç±ô Water

Remains at drought level 2. The company have activated a range of activities in line with its drought plan. 

4.3Ìý°ä²¹³¾²ú°ù¾±»å²µ±ð Water

Remains at drought level 1. No significant change to water resource position from last week, actions continue in line with its drought plan.

4.4Ìý·¡²õ²õ±ð³æ and Suffolk Water

Now at drought level 1 in its Essex and Northern Central water resources zones but has no water supply concerns currently. The company is following actions as set out in its drought plan.

4.5 Northumbrian Water

Remains at drought level 1 but has no water supply concerns. No significant change to water resource position from last week, actions continue in line with its drought plan.

4.6Ìý³§±ð±¹±ð°ù²Ô Trent Water

Remains at drought level 1b in its North Staffs, and Strategic Grid East, water resources zones (WRZs). Its Strategic Grid West is in drought level 1a. Reservoirs are continuing to decline. Tittesworth reservoir is at 48.9%, 1.2% lower than the previous week, Elan Valley is at 53.2%, 3% lower than last week, and Derwent Valley reservoirs are at 47.2%, 2% lower than last week.

4.7Ìý³§´Ç³Ü³Ù³ó±ð°ù²Ô Water

Remains at drought level 2 in its Hampshire and Isle of Wight WRZs. SW implemented a TUB on Monday 21 July for customers in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. SW applied to Defra for a drought order to alter its River Test abstraction conditions and for a non-essential use drought order on 18 July.

4.8Ìý³§´Ç³Ü³Ù³ó East Water

Remains at drought level 2. The company implemented a TUB in its Kent and Sussex supply areas on Friday 18 July. Arlington reservoir is currently at 56.6% full and Ardingly is at 46.9% full. The company is closely monitoring its reservoirs and preparing for further actions.

4.9Ìý³§´Ç³Ü³Ù³ó Staffordshire Water

Remains at drought level 1. Its reservoirs continue to decline and is approaching drought level 2. Blithfield storage is currently at 48.8% and has decreased by 1.5% in the last week. The company continues its actions as set out in its drought plan and is preparing for drought level 2 actions.

4.9Ìý°Õ³ó²¹³¾±ð²õ Water

Remains at drought level 2 in its Swindon and Oxfordshire WRZ (SWOX) and drought level 1 in its London zone. TW implemented a TUB for its SWOX customers on 22 July.

4.10Ìý±«²Ô¾±³Ù±ð»å Utilities

Reservoir levels are still low for time of year and its Pennine reservoirs in the strategic grid remain of concern. The company has activated a range of supply and demand activities to conserve storage in these reservoirs.

4.11Ìý°Â±ð²õ²õ±ð³æ Water

Remains at drought level 1a. No significant change to water resource position from last week, actions continue in line with its drought plan.

4.12Ìý³Û´Ç°ù°ì²õ³ó¾±°ù±ð Water

Remains at drought level 2 and implemented a TUB on 11 July. Reservoirs have declined 2.7% in the last week to 44.3% full and are tracking 1995 levels. The company has applied for 14 drought permits and 1 drought order. More details from .

5. Agriculture

Although the recent rainfall has been welcomed by growers, impacts from the dry weather remain. As of 7 August, there are 814 hands off flow restrictions in force on abstraction licences which are limiting to the ability to irrigate some crops. Hands off flows are in-built conditions on some abstraction licences that require abstractors to either reduce or stop abstraction when flows fall below a predetermined level set out in the licence.

Due to low river flows, we are reviewing the need for Section 57 irrigation bans in parts of East Anglia. We have previously written to licence holders in East Anglia, requesting voluntary reductions on surface water abstraction. This will help conserve and extend the total period when water is available for abstraction, protect the environment and delay the need for any formal restrictions.

We are also monitoring the River Wye catchment in the West Midlands for any potential Section 57 bans and continue to engage with NFU and the agriculture community to promote good irrigation practice and efficient water efficiency.

Should the dry weather continue into August and September, there is a risk to harvesting of root vegetable crops which require irrigation where the ground is dry. This may impact further on crop quality and yields if irrigation restrictions remain.

Heatwaves over the summer have affected grass and maize growth and in areas where there has been limited rainfall, there are concerns on winter forage stocks. Straw and fodder stocks are expected to be in short supply this year and higher prices are expected as a result. Winter wheat has seen record breaking yields in places but crops such as peas have suffered due to heat stress and drought conditions.

We continue to engage with the agriculture sector and have received 15 flexible abstraction requests across areas. These help abstractors manage with the exceptionally dry weather.

We continue to proactively update our dry weather communications for the agriculture sector, through the Environment Agency dry weather farming blog and Water Hub webpage to highlight support available to farmers to help improve access to water.

6. Navigation

The dry weather has affected many the Canal and River Trust hydrological units which continue to deteriorate despite the recent rainfall. Nationally its reservoir holdings are in the worst position since records began.

Navigation restrictions continue through the Canal & River Trust network with navigation closures and restrictions across the Leeds and Liverpool, Trent and Mersey, Peak Forest, Chesterfield, Lancaster Rochdale, Macclesfield, Trent and Mersey, Oxford, Grand Union canal, Coventry, Birmingham Canal Navigation and Kennett and Avon canal.

We continue to manage low flows through Oxford watercourses including enforcing some navigation restrictions in the Oxford area on the River Thames. Levels are extremely low from Pinkhill to Culham, affecting safe navigation.

7. Environment

Reports of algal blooms have continued to rise steadily throughout July; a total of 127 incidents have been confirmed this year to date (note only 9% have been directly flagged as caused by drought and dry weather on our reporting system). The latest data shows that the current total number of algal incidents is similar to 2022, though lower than 2018.

The increase and overall numbers of confirmed (cat 1-3) fish kill incidents is below confirmed numbers for 2022 and 2023. Incidents are widespread across the country, matching the widespread extent of the drought impacts.

Severn Regulation continues and there have been 53 days of regulation since 9 May 2025.

The Environment Agency has applied for three drought orders – one drought order at Elslack reservoir and one for Winterburn on 7 August. The drought order for Holme Styes reservoir has been granted by Defra.

8. Weather forecast

The forecast for Friday and through the weekend is that conditions will remain settled and mostly dry, with sunny spells and a gradual rise in temperatures.

For Monday and Tuesday, it is likely to be hot and humid with temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius in parts of the south-east. The extent and duration of any warmer weather remains uncertain.

The dry weather is set to last until the final week of the month, where more unsettled weather is likely to arrive for the start of September.

9.Ìý¶Ù°ù´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù readiness actions

In response to the drought and dry weather, the Environment Agency continues to act by: 

• operating our Gold command structure for our national incident response
• coordinating closely with water companies to implement statutory drought plans, taking necessary action to safeguard public water supplies
• activating drought plans for those areas in drought and PDW status
• enhancing abstraction licence compliance checks and issuing hands off flow/level restrictions and warnings to some abstractors in areas experiencing low flows
• monitoring, preparing and responding to incidents caused by low river flows, particularly in those areas in Drought status
• preparing dry weather advice to fishery operators to help protect their waters
• hosting regular national drought meetings

The next National Drought Group meeting is scheduled for 11 August.

10. Contact us

°ä´Ç²Ô³Ù²¹³¦³ÙÌýdrought.national@environment-agency.gov.uk if you have questions about this report.