Drought in England continues despite rain, with reservoirs 54% full

October 2026 rainfall has not ended the drought in England. Government reports show reservoirs are still very low and much of the country continues to face water shortages. The BBC also highlighted the issue, describing the situation after an exceptionally wet week.

What the data shows

The drought report for England covering 16–22 October 2026 put national reservoir stocks at 54% of capacity. That is about 22% below the long-term average for the time of year. The level has been broadly flat for weeks: a week earlier, in the report for 2–8 October, it was also 54%, or 21% below average.

Eighteen reservoirs or reservoir groups are less than half full. In 13 cases the level is classed as exceptionally low. In the week ending 20 October 2026, stocks were still falling at two-thirds of reservoirs, although increases were recorded at some reservoirs in northern England and at Clywedog in Wales.

Rivers have fared better. After a second week of wetter weather, flows rose at three-quarters of monitoring sites. Just under half are now classed as normal. Groundwater levels are still falling, however, because exceptionally dry soils limit recharge.

Severe drought in the south

On 15 October 2026 the government declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and East and West Sussex. The main cause is critically low levels at Ardingly reservoir (South East Water) and Wimbleball, which supplies South West Water and Wessex Water. Some smaller reservoirs in west Cornwall are also very low.

How much rain is needed

At the start of October the Environment Agency warned that 120% of average rainfall over the next seven months would be needed for the whole country to be out of drought by spring. Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said after the National Drought Group meeting that the drought is "far from over". The government said that without further action, water stocks would keep falling to the end of the year.

What this means for you

The sources we used do not describe new restrictions for individual customers. However, the Environment Agency is urging everyone to use water wisely. It is worth checking announcements from your own water supplier, especially in the southern and western counties covered by the severe drought declaration.