The United Kingdom has declared drought across seven regions in central, eastern and southern England as the country prepares for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to reach 34°C.
The declaration comes after more than 23 million Britons were affected by hosepipe bans as water companies introduced restrictions amid prolonged dry conditions.
The seven areas now officially in drought are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex, which covers Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.
Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said on Wednesday that the hot and dry weather had caused water usage to outpace natural replenishment.
“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.
“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife and the economy,” she said.
The UK recorded only seven per cent of expected rainfall in July, with southern England receiving just one per cent of its average rainfall for the month.
Last week, parts of North Wales and the Upper Severn became the first areas in the UK to be placed under drought conditions this year.
The Environment Agency said it had increased its response, including closer monitoring of water supplies and tighter control over the amount of water extracted from rivers and groundwater sources.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said climate change was making droughts more frequent and stressed the need for stronger preparations.
“Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.
“We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, go further and faster to reduce leaks, and ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest weather,” she said.
The latest declaration means the UK has recorded three drought years in the past five years, following similar conditions in 2022 and 2025.
The prolonged dry spell has also led to wider water restrictions, with Thames Water becoming the latest supplier to introduce hosepipe bans affecting about 10 million customers.
South East Water also announced restrictions last week affecting an additional 2.4 million customers, including households across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
Meanwhile, several other areas remain under prolonged dry weather status, including Kent and East Sussex, Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and the rest of Solent and the South Downs.
Only Yorkshire and the North East remain under normal water status, although the situation continues to be monitored closely.