Drought Declared Across More Than Half of England
Drought was declared across more than half of England on Wednesday, after a run of heatwaves left rivers and reservoirs depleted. The Environment Agency’s move paves the way for tighter water restrictions, with more than 23 million people already under hosepipe bans. It came as temperatures peaked at around 35C on the hottest day of the fourth heatwave.
The declaration formalises what parched fields and shrinking reservoirs have made plain: England is running short of water after one of its driest spells on record. Water companies can now impose firmer restrictions, and farmers warned of damage to crops and livestock. Ministers face renewed questions over leaky pipes and the long delay in building new reservoirs. As the climate warms, such summers are forecast to become more common. Watch whether restrictions tighten further and how quickly rain returns.