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Four months of above average rainfall mean England’s water levels have now largely recovered from last year’s drought, the National Drought Group heard today.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

East Anglia today (Monday 23rd March) became the final area to move out of recovery, with all regions in England now classed at normal status.ÌýÌý

The expert group noted that while this is positive for water supplies, exceptional levels of rain have caused devastating flooding in many communities.ÌýÌýÌý

Our changing climate means we willÌýlikely experienceÌýmore rapid swings between drought and flooding – sometimes referred to as weather whiplash.ÌýÌýÌý

The risk of drought in 2026 is currently low but thereÌýremainsÌýthe possibility of a flash drought – brought about by a sudden combination ofÌývery lowÌýrainfall and hot temperatures, like we experienced in 2022.ÌýÌýÌý

National Drought Group chair and Director of Water at the Environment Agency, Helen Wakeham, said:Ìý

Last year’s drought wasÌýchallengingÌýfor everyone, affecting our farmers, ourÌýwildlife,Ìýand our public water supplies.ÌýÌýÌý

The winter rainfall has helped our depleted reservoirs and rivers to recover and, while we welcome the improved picture, we are mindful of the problems that flooding bringsÌýtoo.ÌýÌý

We enter spring in a favourable position, but we can never be complacent. We expect water companies to carry on quickly fixing burst pipes and to be ready to enact their drought plansÌýin a timely manner, if needed.Ìý

The National Drought Group includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers,Ìýhydrologists,Ìýand conservation experts.ÌýÌýÌý

Each share their current water situation, ongoing research and innovation, areas of concern, and preparations for future drought – so all can work together to protect our precious and finite resources.ÌýÌýÌý

The meeting heard that water companies are finalising their statutory drought plans, which are produced every five years and detail how public supplies and the environment will be protected during dry weather.ÌýÌýÌý

Alongside this, the Government recently gave additional guidance to water companies for beefing up their contingency plans should a region enter severe drought – last experienced in England half a century ago in 1976. Measures could include daily limits, reduced water pressure, or business restrictions to ensure the tapsÌýremainÌýon.Ìý

After attending the National Drought Group meeting,Ìý Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

Despite our recent wet weather, we must still talk about drought. Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared.ÌýÌý

We expect water companies to update their draft statutory drought plans by the end of March and plan for more extreme dry weather – in the hope it never comes.ÌýÌý

In the longer-term, the Government is taking decisive action to secure supplies, including nine new reservoirs, multiple water transfer schemes, and eight desalination projects.ÌýÌý

CURRENT WATER SITUATION:ÌýÌý

• February received 170% of the long-term average (LTA) rainfall.ÌýMarch to date rainfall is 53% of the long-term average for the monthÌý

• Reservoir storage for England is now 95% which is slightly above average for this time of year.Ìý

• Abberton and Hanningfield reservoirs in Essex,ÌýGrafham reservoir in Cambridgeshire and the Dove Group in DerbyshireÌýare still below average for this time of year.ÌýÌý

• Soils are now fully replenished across the country, with no deficits remaining.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Groundwater and river flows are now normal or above across England. See more here:Ìý Water situation reports for England - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

• All areas are out of drought and there are no water company restrictions in place.ÌýÌýÌý

It is a mixed picture across England, however. The south-west recorded the second highest December to February winter rainfall since records began in 1871, which has caused widespread flooding.ÌýÌýÌý

In contrast, despite a wet start to the year, East Anglia’s river flows and groundwater levels have been slower to recover from last year’s drought. This meant delays for some farmers in refilling their on-site reservoirs ahead of the irrigation season.ÌýÌý

To ensure resilience to more extreme weather, the Government announced last week more than 600 projects that will be funded as part of a £10.5billion flood defence programme.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

The Floods Resilience Taskforce also recently met in Manchester to assess the impact of recent winter storms and to accelerate action to protect communities.ÌýÌýÌý

Meanwhile, National Drought Group members also spent the winter preparing for the spring and summer ahead.ÌýÌý

ACTIONS TAKEN:ÌýÌý

• Water companies continue to drive down leaks to meet a commitment to halve the amount lost by 2050.ÌýÌýÌý

• Farmers have been saving winter rainwater, where possible, in reservoir storage.ÌýÌýÌý

• The Government continues to progress mandatory water efficiency labelling in white goods, such as washing machines to help consumers reduce their water use.ÌýÌýÌý

• The Canal & River Trust has been undertaking vital maintenance work on its network, including replacing lock gates.ÌýÌýÌý

• The Environment Agency has continued toÌýmonitorÌýrecovery and reviewed the overall response to 2025 to improve preparedness for future droughts.ÌýÌýÌý

• The Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group continues its work with The Alan Turing Institute on river flow modelling.Ìý

As we now enter spring, the weather is forecast to be mostly dry for the rest of March. The Met Office forecastÌýindicatesÌýthat conditions will be drier than average for the rest of March albeit with the usual regional variations.ÌýÌý

Head of Environment and Energy at the Met Office, Sarah Davies, said:

High pressure is expected to dominate across the UK through to the end of March, keeping conditions mostly fine and dry with limited rainfall, and temperatures near or slightly above average.ÌýÌý

As we head into early April, there are some early signs the weather could become more changeable, however, there is still no strong indication at this time of a shift towards significantly wetter conditions.ÌýÌý

We continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and other partners to monitor conditions and support preparedness efforts as we move through spring.ÌýÌýÌý

The 50‑year anniversary of the 1976 drought will also be marked this summer through sector‑wide events reflecting on lessons learned and future resilience.Ìý

NOTE TO EDITORS:ÌýÌýÌýÌý

DROUGHT, FLOOD AND WATER RESOURCES:ÌýÌýÌý

See more on the 2025 drought here:Ìý2025 drought: how it developed in England - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

See more on the latest flood investment:Ìý£1.4bn flood investment unleashed to protect homes and businesses - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

England faces water shortages of five billion litres a day by 2055. Read more here:ÌýNational Framework for Water Resources 2025: water for growth, nature and a resilient future - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹ÏÌý

2025 AND 2026 LONG-TERM AVERAGE RAINFALL STATISTICS:ÌýÌýÌý

2025:ÌýÌý

JanÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 112%ÌýÌý

FebÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 79%ÌýÌý

MarÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 25%ÌýÌý

AprÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 50%ÌýÌý

MayÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 57%ÌýÌý

JunÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 80%ÌýÌý

JulÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 89%ÌýÌý

AugÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 42%ÌýÌý

SepÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 149%ÌýÌý

OctÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 90%ÌýÌý

NovÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 149%ÌýÌý

DecÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 114%ÌýÌý

2026:ÌýÌý

JanÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 150%ÌýÌý

FebÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 170%ÌýÌý

WATER SAVING TIPS:ÌýÌýÌý

Whatever the weather, we always need to use water wisely to protect current and future supplies. We can:ÌýÌýÌý

• OptÌýfor a low-flow shower head: These use around 6 litres per minute, compared to a standard shower head, which uses 10-15 litres per minute. Over a 10-minute shower,Ìýthat’sÌýa saving of up to 90 litres of water.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• If youÌýdon’tÌýhave a dual flush, get a Cistern Displacement Device (CDD) from your water company: This simple tool can reduce each toilet flush by at least 1 litre and is often available for free from water companies. Find out more on your water company’s websiteÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• In the kitchen avoid pre-rinsing dishes – scrape them instead, as modern detergents are designed to work effectively without extra rinsing and use a washing-up bowl to catch excess water -this can reduce wastage by up to 50%ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Fill your washing machine to its recommended load size for the most efficient use of water.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Know your house plants and how much water they really need during cooler winter months – try not to over water.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Install a rain butt to collect rainwater to use in the garden to use when the warmer weather returns.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Turn off the taps when brushing teeth or shaving.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Take shorter showers.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

• Fix a leaking toilet – leaky loos can waste 200-400 litres a day.ÌýÌýÌýÌý