It's official: Warning to save water as drought declared in West Midlands

People have been urged to conserve water as a drought was officially declared in the West Midlands.

Half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency, with the West Midlands one of seven regions affected.

The body said a large swathe of central, eastern and southern England was now experiencing a ‘flash drought’, brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and warm temperatures.

Read more: Urgent fish rescue operations as part of another Shropshire river dries up

Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, and the risk of wildfires was increasing, people have been told.

Other regions officially in drought are East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, Thames Valley, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, Devon & Cornwall, and Wessex, which covers Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.

The Environment Agency said it was stepping up its operational response, including enhanced monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwaters.

In the West Midlands, the Environment Agency continues to run its River Severn regulation system to ensure flows remain on the river which provides drinking water for six million people. When flows are predicted to drop below a prescribed minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station, water is released from Llyn Clywedog, Lake Vyrnwy and, when required, the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme to maintain the minimum flow.

In Shropshire, fish rescue operations have been carried out on the River Teme and River Onny, where condition have become unsuitable for fish to survive. Members of the public can report fish in distress to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

The Environment Agency is out inspecting abstraction licences to ensure no one is unofficially diverting water supplies, and is also checking that farmers are using water responsibly.

Helen Wakeham, chairman of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife and the economy.

“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”

Representatives from the group - which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, Canal & River Trust, anglers and conservation experts – held a dedicated drought briefing yesterday (Tuesday) with water minister, Emma Hardy.

They reviewed impacts, preparedness and drought response actions across England, with water companies being told to prioritise fixing leaks.

There is also additional engagement with key groups, such as farmers and water companies, and cross-government work to secure supplies into the autumn.

Miss Hardy said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.

“We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.

“We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.”

The current drought now means there have been three droughts in the past five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026.

There has been a dramatic shift in weather this year, from a very wet winter to an exceptionally hot and dry summer.

The winter rainfall helped replenish reservoirs and groundwater, helping us through a dry spring without any major impacts.

However, the summer has continued to be exceptionally hot and dry. July has seen just seven per cent of expected rainfall, falling to one per cent across southern England, and there is no substantial rain on the way.

Combined with three heatwaves, including 12 consecutive days of temperatures above 30C (86F), our water storage has begun to deplete. The higher temperatures also mean water is evaporating from soils and vegetation, making wildfires more likely.

With everyone’s help in using a little less water and following restrictions, our current reserves should be enough for the coming months until the next period of sustained rainfall.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Will Lang, said: “The warm and exceptionally dry conditions experienced across much of England over recent months are continuing to have a significant impact. Many areas have received very little or no rainfall throughout July, extending a period of below-average rainfall that has persisted across parts of the country since spring.

"While there are indications of occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations, there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.

"The Met Office continues to work closely with the Environment Agency and partners across the water sector, providing expert meteorological information and forecasts to support drought monitoring, planning and response activities."

Aside from the seven areas in drought, a further six areas are in a period of ‘prolonged, dry weather’: Kent & East Sussex, Cumbria & Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire, East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire, and the rest of Solent & the South Downs.