The Environment Agency has published a research report setting out the factual timeline of how the 2025 drought developed through the year in England.

Yorkshire Water is today lifting the temporary hosepipe restrictions introduced on 11 July across Yorkshire, following the driest spring in 132 years and a record-breaking warm summer.

The Environment Agency has issued a further six drought permits to Yorkshire Water to allow the company to conserve more water in reservoirs to secure public drinking water supplies, in addition to 37 permits which are already in place.

Following the hottest summer on UK record according to the Met Office, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has confirmed that no temporary use measures, or hosepipe bans, will be needed across its operating area this year.

Thames Water has today provided an update on activities since it first announced the introduction of a Temporary Use Ban (hosepipe ban) which came into effect on 22^nd July for parts of its network in the Thames Valley including in Swindon and in areas of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.

Southern Water is launching its “You Save, We’ll Pay’ incentive scheme for businesses across Hampshire and Isle of Wight – the scheme will start on Friday 1 August 2025.

The Environment Agency has today announced that the East and West Midlands have officially entered a drought following an extended period of hot weather and the driest June since 1976.

Thames Water’s Temporary Use Ban (hosepipe ban), for areas it supplies with a postcode starting with OX, GL, SN and RG4, RG8 and RG9, has come into effect today.

Southern Water is calling on households across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to ditch their hosepipes from today to protect the environment and keep taps running through the hot summer.

The National Drought Group (NDG) met yesterday and agreed to step up its operational response as a drought was declared in the West and East Midlands.