Drought has been declared in Sussex for the area supplied by South East Water due to declining water levels at Ardingly Reservoir.

Flows, fish passes and weirs on the River Ouse have been checked by the Environment Agency ahead of South East Water's drought order application

The Environment Agency changed the status of the areas around Haywards Heath and Eastbourne to drought on 10 October 2025. Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and the rest of Sussex and Surrey remain in prolonged dry weather status.

Moving to drought status means the Environment Agency and water companies will continue implementing the steps of their pre-agreed drought plans to manage the impacts.

The change in status reflects the decline in water levels at Ardingly Reservoir, near Haywards Heath, and South East Water’s drought order application to help conserve the reservoir’s remaining water.

The Environment Agency says it is working closely with South East Water to ensure it is delivering appropriate actions within its drought plan. Exemptions have been removed from the company’s hosepipe ban which will remain in place until water supply is secured.

This part of Sussex adds to other areas that entered drought status earlier this year - Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester Merseyside and Cheshire, East Midlands, and the West Midlands.

While some parts of the country have seen an improvement or stabilisation in the water resources following the wet September, experts have warned it will take a wet autumn and winter to reverse the impacts of several continuous months of below average rainfall.

Richard O’Callaghan, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said:

“Autumn and winter may feel like there is an excess of water at hand, but the climate is changing, and we must be sensible about water use all the time, not just some of the time. A few bursts of recent rainfall do not undo several dry months of cumulative impact.

“It will take sustained rainfall to address prolonged dry weather and replenish reservoirs and rivers. Everyone can help speed that up by being sensible with their water use.”

The Environment Agency is continuing to monitor river flows and is contacting those with licences to abstract water to reduce demand in line with their licences.

The National Drought Group - which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – continues to monitor the situation and will next meet on 30 October.