Understand
Severe drought declared in parts of Somerset following low rainfall and heatwaves
Overview
Parts of Somerset, alongside other areas in southern England, have been placed in severe drought by the Environment Agency following a summer of heatwaves and below-average autumn rainfall. The Wimbleball reservoir has dropped to 15% capacity, prompting water companies and the government to take additional preservation measures, though officials state that household supplies remain protected for now.
Key points
- Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and East and West Sussex were declared to be in severe drought by the Environment Agency.
- The west Somerset area is supplied by the Wimbleball reservoir, which is at 15% capacity due to months of low rainfall and summer heatwaves.
- The severe drought classification allows water companies to take extra measures, such as restricting reservoir releases and limiting business water use.
- Wessex Water previously implemented its first hosepipe ban in 50 years as summer demand reached 440 million litres per day.
- Average reservoir levels across Somerset are currently at 24%, well below normal levels for this time of year.
- Water companies and the Environment Agency report that customers' supplies are not currently affected, utilizing grid networks to move water into the affected areas.