England's reservoirs remained under drought strain after September 2026 became the sixth month that year with below-average rainfall, Defra, the Environment Agency and Water Minister Emma Hardy reported on 2 October 2026. The agencies said most reservoirs were classed as notably or exceptionally low, with Ardingly in West Sussex at 23% and Wimbleball in Somerset at 21% of capacity. Normally, overall storage at that time of year would be nearly three-quarters (74.3%) full; this year most reservoirs were less than half full. September rainfall averaged 65% of normal nationally, with the east and south east at 52% and 57%, central England at 59% and the south west at 69%.

The Environment Agency said it was assessing 10 drought permit applications, including a permit recently granted to South East Water to support Ardingly Reservoir. The report said South East Water was set to apply that Friday for a non-essential use ban. The agency also announced that farmers could begin filling water storage reservoirs from the day before publication rather than 1 November, except in catchments classed as principal salmon rivers or where S57 restrictions applied, and simplified longer-term abstraction licence applications. It said soils remained very dry and warned that 120% of average rainfall over the coming seven months would be needed for England to be out of drought by spring.

On the report date, the National Drought Group had moved to weekly meetings. The government cited a £65 million package for drought-hit farmers, including up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs, and £100 million for extreme-weather and wildfire response, and it said reservoir storage was set to keep declining through the rest of the year without major interventions.