The government declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, according to a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announcement published on 15 October 2026. It said customer water supplies would remain uninterrupted, but that the declaration allows proactive steps to safeguard water before any disruption occurs. The department said the South East and South West had experienced their driest April to September in over a century, affecting reservoir levels.

The measures include instructing water companies to monitor reservoir and river levels daily and tightening water quality monitoring; the Environment Agency increasing compliance checks on businesses that withdraw water from natural sources; and standing up Local Resilience Forums. Water Minister Emma Hardy instructed the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supplies where environmental rules and supplies conflict, allowing companies to keep more water in depleted reservoirs. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle urged people to use water wisely over the coming weeks.

The announcement followed a meeting of the National Drought Group. The government also cited long-term plans, including £104 billion for water infrastructure and nine new major reservoirs.