Weather Water shortage in England "of national importance"
After the driest first half of the year since 1976, the UK has classified the current water shortage in England as "of national concern". According to the authorities, certain parts of the country are in drought.
12.08.2025, 05:39
12.08.2025, 05:40
SDA
The UK Environment Agency (EA) declared on Tuesday that five out of 14 of its operational regions in England are suffering from drought and six others are affected by persistent drought. Water supplies are depleted and the situation is affecting crops, it said.
The National Drought Authority, which includes representatives from government, agriculture and water companies, has met to discuss the situation. "We are calling on everyone to play their part and help reduce the pressure on our water environment," said Helen Wakeham, who is responsible for water at the EA.
The vice president of the National Farmers Union, Rachel Hallos, said there was "growing concern about the coming months" as farmers faced "extremely dry conditions". Some farms have already reported significant crop losses, which are financially devastating for farms and could have an impact on the entire UK harvest.
Irrigation partly prohibited
Water levels in reservoirs across England have only reached 67.7 percent of their capacity in recent days. The average for the first week of August is 80.5 percent full. According to the EA, 49 percent of rivers also have lower than normal water levels. In Yorkshire in the north of England, watering gardens has already been banned.
"We will face increasing water shortages over the next decade," said Water Minister Emma Hardy. The government is planning to build new reservoirs to secure supplies, she added.
Researchers warn that man-made climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods.
