The UK drought is emerging as one of the most critical environmental challenges of recent years. Despite its reputation as a rainy nation, England is now facing shrinking waterholes, reduced rivers, and the very real risk of water shortages. Scientists warn that, without urgent reforms, the country could face a daily shortfall of five billion litres by 2055 — a crisis that would threaten households, agriculture, and the broader economy. Forecasts indicate that by 2055 England’s public water supply could be short by five billion litres a day without urgent action to future-proof resources, the equivalent of more than a third of the supplies available today. Provisional figures from the Met Office show that the UK’s average temperature from June 1 to August 17 stands at 16.2 °C, some 1.6 °C above the average temperature. The UK is experiencing one of its warmest summers. 15% of surface water bodies and 27% of groundwater bodies in England have unsustainable levels of abstraction.
On the other hand, British farmers and growers continue to face arid conditions. Some farms are reporting a significant drop in yields, which is financially devastating for the farm business. With rising temperatures, below-average rainfall, and increasing demand for water, the drought is no longer a seasonal inconvenience but a clear warning of how climate change is reshaping life in Britain.
UK Drought: No Rain sweeping, No Green Area
England’s reservoirs are at their lowest levels in at least a decade, with several months of above-average rainfall needed to ease the pressure. While famously rain-swept, climate crisis, population growth, and profligacy mean the once unthinkable could be possible. The Government must take the UK drought seriously.
During the drought of 2022, London came perilously close to running out of water. Water companies and the Government prayed desperately for Rain as reservoirs ran low and the groundwater was slowly drained off. Contingency plans were drafted to ban businesses from using water; hotel swimming pools would have been drained, ponds allowed to dry up, and offices would have gone uncleaned. If the lack of rainfall had continued for another year, taps could have run dry.
Water Shortage: A Problem for the British Nation
The UK government announced a “nationally significant” water shortage in England, which means the whole country is at risk of running out if the dry weather continues. People across England are already banned from using hosepipes, with more restrictions coming next month. The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), an independent research institute, has warned of exceptionally low river flows. Reservoirs are also at extremely low levels, and groundwater is dwindling.
Droughts are generally two-year events. A year of dry weather means water supplies are running out. Things come to a head if the following year does not bring above-average rainfall. That is when the shortages start to bite. Farmers are unable to irrigate, and households and businesses are hit with sweeping restrictions. With reservoirs at record lows and stream flows exceptionally low, England is desperate for Rain.
UK Drought: Dry Lakes, Climate Breakdown
The UK is one of the rainier places in Europe. Some areas are wetter than others. In England, the Lake District generally receives an average of 2,000mm of rainfall a year, while in parts of the south-east it is as low as 700mm. It may be because the country has always had such rich resources that they have been taken for granted. Running out of water has never really been in question. But with population growth and climate breakdown, this is starting to look like folly. As Sir David King, a former UK chief scientific adviser who chairs the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, says: “Drought in England is no longer a warning. It is a clear signal that climate collapse is unravelling our water, food, and natural systems right now.
Forecasts indicate that by 2055, England’s public water supply could be short by five billion litres a day without urgent action to future-proof resources. It is the equivalent of more than a third of the supplies available today. The effect on the economy will be profoundly damaging. The think tank Public First has estimated that the economic cost of water scarcity could be £8.5bn over this parliament.
England’s water system: A Cause for Drought
England’s water system is under criticism. Moreover, there is blame on the privatisation for a lack of investment in infrastructure. Some say this is owing to the water companies paying out dividends rather than using the money raised by customer bills solely for investment in infrastructure; others blame a privatised, regulated monopoly system that has prioritised low customer bills over investment.
The result of these incentives is unsustainably high levels of abstraction from the natural environment, most of which will not be replaced by Rain on the same timescale. Stores of water, such as fossil aquifers and chalk streams, recharge over centuries. The Environment Agency (EA) assesses that 15% of surface water bodies and 27% of groundwater bodies in England have unsustainable levels of abstraction.
Hot Summer: No Water, Dry Ground
With two weeks to go until the end of the meteorological summer, conditions could still shift. Still, the season’s overall warmth and consistently above-average temperatures mean it could rank among the UK’s warmest in records dating back to 1884. Provisional figures from the Met Office show that the UK’s average temperature from June 1 to August 17 stands at 16.2 °C, some 1.6 °C above the average temperature. A combination of factors, including dry ground from spring, high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK, is the reason for this persistent warmth. These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers.
There have been four heatwaves so far this summer. The Met Office said that it was unusual. Each heatwave has been short-lived and interspersed with near-average conditions, and the hottest day of the year, at 35.8 °C in Faversham, Kent, is well below the all-time high for the UK of 40.3 °C in 2022. Rainfall is tracking below average. There is an average record of 72% of the whole summer’s long-term, when 85% would be at this point in the season – but it is variable, with northern Scotland already receiving 98% of its summer rainfall and the Midlands just 58%.
UK Drought: Farms at Risk
The National Drought Group includes the Met Office, Government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts. They talked about the water-saving measures each sector is taking in response to the UK drought.
British farmers and growers continue to face arid conditions. Harvest is underway, and crop yields are proving mixed across the country. Some farms are reporting a significant drop in yields. It is financially devastating for the farm business and could affect the UK’s overall harvest. Farming is a long-term industry, and there is growing concern about the months ahead. Minimal grass growth means many livestock farmers are already tapping into winter feed stocks. It is raising the risk of higher production costs later in the year.
