Overview
- The Government declared severe drought on Thursday, October 15, 2026 for parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex after a National Drought Group assessment.
- Key reservoirs are far below seasonal norms, with Ardingly around 19–20% full and Wimbleball about 15–16%, levels the Environment Agency says would usually be nearer 75% at this time of year.
- The Environment Agency has issued drought permits that reduce reservoir outflows, for example cutting Ardingly releases by about 3 million litres a day and lowering flows to the River Exe by about 9 million litres a day.
- Ministers have ordered daily monitoring of river and reservoir levels, increased checks on water abstraction and stronger water-quality oversight to protect household supplies while urging the public to use less water.
- Officials warn the declaration allows short-term trade-offs that will affect rivers, wildlife and farming and say the crisis underlines plans in the Government’s Water Bill and major infrastructure spending to boost long-term water resilience.