Key facts
- Five key reservoirs in England and Wales are at "exceptionally low" levels.
- Wimblewall reservoir is at 46% capacity, with other critically low reservoirs including Clatworthy (48%), Hanningfield (56%), Clywedog (56%), and Dove group (69%).
- Overall reservoir levels in England are at 66%, significantly below seasonal expectations.
- The National Hydrological Monitoring Programme described July's aridity as "unprecedented."
- Water companies are reportedly losing billions of litres of water daily through leaky pipes.
Five key reservoirs across England and Wales are experiencing "exceptionally low" levels, a situation exacerbated by persistent drought and extreme summer heat. This is placing significant pressure on public water supplies, with projections indicating the issue will likely continue into the autumn.
Data from the Environment Agency on August 11 revealed that Wimblewall reservoir, operated by South West Water, is less than half full at 46%. Four other strategically important reservoirs are also critically low: Clatworthy in Somerset (48%), Hanningfield in Essex (56%), Clywedog in Powys (56%), and the Dove group in Derbyshire (69%).
Across England, total reservoir levels have dropped to 66%, a decrease from 69% the previous week and nearly 14 percentage points lower than typically expected for this period. Only four of the 32 reservoirs classified as strategically important or representative are at normal levels.
The National Hydrological Monitoring Programme described July's aridity as "unprecedented" and anticipates that "widespread below-normal to exceptionally low" water flows will persist well into autumn, with potential for further deterioration. Experts note the cumulative impact of multiple droughts in recent years, with a dry winter posing a significant concern for future water security.
While infrastructure investments have improved water transfer resilience, no new reservoirs have been built in the UK since 1992. Research indicates that water companies in England and Wales waste approximately 2.87 billion litres of water daily through leaky pipes, equivalent to a fifth of all water pumped. The government has ordered the construction of new reservoirs, but these are not expected to be operational until 2036 and 2040, and will only meet a portion of projected future demand.
In response to shortages, water companies are resorting to measures such as applying to abstract more water from sensitive chalk streams, raising concerns among environmental groups about the impact on wildlife and ecosystems.