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Drought Update

All Regions

Last updated:


Despite recent rainfall, the National Drought Group has stated that, “nationally a significant water shortfall” remains. With five areas officially in drought, and six more experiencing prolonged dry weather, England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impact due to the hot dry weather.

Not only was the six-month period to July this year the driest since 1976, it’s also been recorded as the fifth warmest on record. This means river flows and reservoir levels across the country continue to recede compared to June.

We continue to do everything we can to keep all our customers supplied with top quality drinking water. This includes fixing leaks, using smart technology to manage water pressures, and closely monitoring demand across our network.

Further information on what we’re doing to keep your taps running is available at Water supply and drought update | Help | Thames Water

Simple actions make a big difference. Cutting two minutes off a 10-minute shower saves 20 litres of water, and turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save up to nine litres a minute.

By working together, we can all help protect your water supply. If you can, please take a break from using hosepipes in gardens and around the home.

Thank you for your ongoing help and support.

Thankfully, we’ve seen some periods of rainfall and cooler temperatures, which combined has given us all some respite from the heat.