Reservoir levels falling as drought warnings issued

Telegraph

11-05-2025

Water levels in reservoirs have sharply dropped as the UK endures the driest start to spring in 69 years.
In the North West of England, reservoir levels sit at 69 per cent full, far below the 90 per cent at this time last year, the water company United Utilities said.
Last week, the Environment Agency warned that England was facing a summer drought without sustained rainfall.
It urged water companies to do more to cut leakages and help customers save water. While there are currently no hosepipe bans planned, the regulator warned that measures may have to be implemented in the months ahead.
Wayoh reservoir near Bolton, in Greater Manchester, has been heavily affected by the dry weather, with United Utilities asking residents to 'help use water wisely' as it tries to make the 'very best use of its water resources'.
Matt Hemmings, the company's chief operating officer, said: 'With local reservoir levels lower than we would expect for the time of the year, we can all play our part to make sure there's enough water for people, wildlife, and the environment.'
Other affected reservoirs include Haweswater and Thirlmere, in the Lake District, which currently sit at 59 per cent compared to 95 per cent last year – representing a 36 per cent decrease.
Water levels at Woodhead reservoir, a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire, are also extremely low following weeks of little rainfall and high temperatures.
Pictures from Saturday showed the reservoir, which was constructed between 1847 and June 1877, with alarmingly low water levels.
Over the last week, there was just 2mm of rain in north-east, central and eastern England, dropping to less than 1mm across the rest of the country, according to the Environment Agency. Three weeks ago, rain levels ranged from 6mm to 37mm.
The agency has warned that water companies might have to implement hosepipe restrictions if the dry weather continues.
Richard Thompson, the organisation's deputy director of water, said that despite record wet conditions in the past two years, recent dry weather now meant drought was a 'possibility'.
He added: 'We need to be prepared. It's heartening to see more people looking to reduce their water use and we expect water companies to do more to cut leakage and roll out smart meters.'
Tim McMahon, the managing director of Southern Water, previously urged households to reduce water use, telling the BBC that the South-East was drier than 'Sydney, Dallas, Marrakesh and Istanbul '. On average each person uses about 140 litres of water a day.
England has seen its driest start to spring since 1956, with half the expected rainfall in April and only a quarter of the long-term average in March, Met Office figures show. As a result, farmers have had to start irrigating crops early, leading to more pressure on their on-site storage reservoirs.
Wildfires have already been experienced in areas such as Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset because of the dry vegetation, the Environment Agency said.