Northumbrian Water is reporting that reservoir water storage across the North East is in a strong position thanks to careful management in 2025.

Storage levels across all reservoirs, including Kielder, are currently at 95% combined, following one of the driest years on record.

Sister company Essex and Suffolk Water is separately reporting that reservoir storage across Essex is in a positive position ahead of summer with torage levels across the Hanningfield and Abberton reservoirs are currently at 86% combined.

Many areas across the country saw drought conditions in 2025 which led to restrictions placed on water supply, which both Northumbrian Water and Essex and Suffolk managed to avoid.

2025 was one of the driest years on record and the country saw four nation-wide heatwaves, the driest ever spring on record and very limited rainfall in some areas until late November.

Kieran Ingram, Water Director at both companies said:

“Given the challenges we faced last year, and how hard our operational teams have worked to recover, we’re in a strong position now we’re in spring.

“We’re fortunate to have fantastic teams made up of industry experts, doing everything they can throughout the year to carefully manage our supplies. And while we do everything that we can, we need our customers to help us by doing the same.”

Actions already under way by the water companies include:

Finding and fixing leaks: 2,711 leaks were repaired across Northumbrian Water’s supply areas in January, February and March, while1,933 leaks were repaired across supply areas in Essex and Suffolk in January, February and March.

Replacing ageing pipes to make the network more resilient. Northumbrian Water is investing £50 million to repair and replace pipes in the network to improve resilience between 2025 and 2030. Essex & Suffolk is investing £1 billion in network improvements and resilience between 2025 and 2030

Kieran added: “From finding and fixing leaks quickly to prioritising essential work on our networks, we’re doing everything to maximise how much we can refill the reservoirs.

“But we all have a part to play. Small changes, like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, can make a real difference to the levels of demand on our water network and keeps water in the environment where it belongs.”

Both companies have launched a monthly infographic for customers, so they can see key information at a glance about rainfall, reservoir levels, leakage repair and demand, for the previous month.