Six English regions in severe drought as reservoirs run low — SkimNews
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- Six English regions — Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex — have been placed under severe drought status after the driest April-to-September in the south-east and south-west in more than a century.
- Environment Secretary Angela Eagle convened the National Drought Group but has not yet approved requests from South East Water, South West Water, and Southern Water to impose non-essential use bans on golf clubs, private schools, and commercial car washes.
- Ardingly reservoir is at 19% capacity serving about 95,000 properties in Haywards Heath, Uckfield and surrounding areas, and Wimbleball reservoir sits at 16% — both far below the Environment Agency's expected ~75% level for this time of year.
- Water Minister Emma Hardy directed the Environment Agency to prioritize protecting public water supplies over environmental rules where unavoidable trade-offs exist between the two.
- The National Drought Group announced a shift to daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels, plus heightened water quality monitoring because lower sewage dilution is raising pollution risks.
- Environment Agency CEO Philip Duffy said water companies must follow their drought plans now and urged the public to use less water, adding that conserving water would leave more in rivers for farmers and wildlife.
Why it matters: Angela Eagle hasn't approved non-essential water bans, so golf clubs and commercial car washes keep drawing water while Ardingly reservoir, serving 95,000 properties, sits at 19% — far below the expected 75%. Water Minister Emma Hardy directed the Environment Agency to prioritize public supply over environmental rules, creating a direct trade-off between household taps and river health.
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