The risk of drought is rising across large parts of England after an unusually dry start to spring pushed river flows, groundwater levels and soil moisture below seasonal norms, according to the latest official hydrological outlook.
Government data released this week warned that central and southern England are particularly vulnerable, with “below normal to notably low river flows” expected to persist through the rest of May and potentially into July.
The warning follows two consecutive dry months across much of the country, with eastern and southeastern England experiencing their driest April since 2011, the Independent reported.
According to the Met Office, national rainfall during April was 23pc below average, intensifying concerns over water availability heading into the summer months.
Officials said declining rainfall has already led to noticeable soil moisture deficits across England, especially in southern and eastern regions that rely heavily on stable groundwater and river systems for agriculture and domestic supply.
River flow indicators fell at every monitored site during April, while groundwater levels also declined almost universally.
Although reservoir levels remain slightly above average for this time of year, storage has also begun to fall.
The situation has not yet reached formal drought conditions, and forecasters expect some rainfall during May. However, concern is growing among farmers and local authorities that continued dry weather could create serious pressures later in the year.
In Cambridgeshire, councillors were recently warned that existing water supplies may struggle to meet future agricultural and household demand.
Local authorities have now launched a £1.38m support scheme to help farmers improve water efficiency, while longer-term infrastructure projects — including the proposed Fens Reservoir — are being accelerated as part of wider drought resilience planning.
Water companies have also begun publicly addressing the risks.
Southern Water, which supplies around 2.7 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said the region had received only 20pc of average rainfall in April and just 15pc of normal levels so far in May.
Despite the dry conditions, the company said reservoir storage remained at 92pc capacity and that groundwater and river conditions were generally stronger than at the same point last year.
A spokesman said the company had begun preparing early for potential drought pressures and was closely monitoring river and reservoir levels to maximise efficiency and minimise environmental impacts.
The warnings come as climate experts increasingly caution that England faces a growing long-term risk of water scarcity due to a combination of hotter summers, population growth and pressure on ageing infrastructure.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that prolonged dry spells are becoming more common as climate patterns shift, increasing the likelihood of both droughts and extreme rainfall events occurring within the same year.
Leave a Comment