Wessex Water has today announced a hosepipe ban after months of unprecedented dry weather, heatwaves and a continued lack of rain forecast, which has led to sustained high demand for water.
Farmers across England will receive new support to help manage the impact of prolonged dry weather, including a £65 million funding boost, as the government steps up its response to the ongoing drought.
The Environment Agency has declared more areas in England in drought after a record dry July - almost three-quarters of England is now in drought as conditions worsen following a dry start to August.
The World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations authoritative voice on weather, climate and water, is warning that the already strong El Niño expected to intensify as much of the world faces above normal temperatures and major changes in rainfall patterns.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) yesterday confirmed that it is extending its drought declaration across the whole of Wales - with very little rainfall and sustained high temperatures over the last week, conditions across Wales’ natural environment have continued to deteriorate.
Half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency - seven areas of the countare ry now officially in drought after record low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures.
More parts of Scotland have moved into water scarcity following another week of exceptionally dry weather, with several areas now close to Significant Scarcity.
Widespread wildfires, record-low river flows and the mounting impacts of successive heatwaves on the environment have triggered the declaration of drought status in North Wales and the Upper Severn, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed yesterday.
The Government has rejected the call for water companies to be statutory consultees on all major planning decisions in the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee drought report Surviving drought: reclaim the rain’ published in May 2026.
The National Drought Group is stepping up its response after the third heatwave as parts of southern, central, and eastern England move closer to drought status.
Albion Water, the first NAV (New Appointment & Variation) to have been established in1999 and now under the ownership of SDS Water Group, has appointed Andy Holland as its new Director of Business Development.
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.