Across England, many areas were hit by drought this year or were at risk of falling into drought due to the hottest summer on record coupled by the driest spring the country has experienced in 132 years.
While the start of autumn was relatively dry, the recent heavy rainfall throughout November and into December has boosted hopes of a drought recovery for some of the parts of England that were hardest hit by the prolonged dry spell earlier this year.
Which areas have recovered from drought so far?
Two regions in England – Yorkshire and the West Country – were named as being in drought recovery within the last month.
In Yorkshire, reservoir levels have improved following recent wet weather, which means the county is now out of drought for the first time since June. However, the Environment Agency cautioned that if the wet weather doesn’t continue, the region could slip back into drought.
While the autumn and winter months are usually the wettest in England, there is no guarantee that above-average levels of rainfall will persist, which means we all still need to be careful how we are using water.
Similar to Yorkshire, the West Country was announced to be in drought recovery as of 18 December. This part of the country experienced 142 per cent of its average monthly rainfall in September, and 128 per cent of its average in November, which has contributed to the recovery.
With a wet start to December, it is possible that this trend could continue, helping to not only top up reservoirs, but also replenish depleted groundwater supplies.
Despite the region entering drought recovery, the Environment Agency noted that there are still concerns about the chalk aquifer that is located below the upper Hampshire Avon in Wiltshire.
What does the national water picture look like?
The most recent meeting of the National Drought Group heard that rainfall across England in October was only 77 per cent of its long-term average, although in September it hit 149 per cent.
As a result, average reservoir storage in England has risen to 63.3 per cent, although this was still below the average of 76 per cent at the end of October. The variation between regions is important, which explains why some areas are still of concern.
What can businesses do to help the drought recovery?
As a business water user, it’s essential to ensure that you are using water resources responsibly, which continues to be a priority even when the country is experiencing deluges like those we’ve seen recently.
That means exploring how you can use water more sustainably, either through the likes of rainfall collection for specific uses, or by reducing consumption where possible.
Both are valid ways to do your part to support the country as it recovers from drought and will help ensure that water supplies remain stable as we move into 2026 and hit the spring and summer next year.
Practical steps for saving water
The following are some of the simple, yet effective, actions you can take to save water in your business. Remember too that as a business water user in England, you can switch business water providers if you feel your current operator isn’t the best choice for your needs.
- Watch your water use: Keep checking how much water you are using as a business and look for ways to reduce it. When you regularly monitor your water use, it also ensures you discover leaks more quickly and can fix them in a timely manner.
- Fix leaks promptly: Following on from this point, make sure you tackle leaks quickly and effectively. This not only saves you wasted water, but also protects your premises from water damage as a result of a leaky pipe.
- Install water-saving appliances: Consider replacing old toilets and taps in your property with dual-flush toilets or low-flow taps to reduce the amount of water used day-to-day.If your business has appliances like washing machines or dishwashers, look for models that reduce water usage wherever possible.
- Get your team involved: This isn’t a job for one person. If everyone who works for your company understands the importance of regulating water use, you’ll see greater savings. Small actions can add up to big gains when everyone does them.
If areas have been in drought, why are there now floods?
This is an understandable question given that many parts of the UK were in drought over the summer. You might think that this would make flooding less likely. However, this is sadly not the case.
When the soil becomes very dry and hard, it cannot absorb surface water as quickly or easily, which means that when there is heavy rain, instead of that water being absorbed by the soil it pools and then runs off.
