16 Sept 2026: Drought Update

Water bosses updated the National Drought Group on their leakage reduction plus autumn and winter preparedness plans, as research shows above-average rainfall needed to end drought by April 2027. Drought is only over when rivers, groundwaters and reservoirs are back to normal levels – and the latter two continue to recede, as expected. New research has shown we need 120% of typical rainfall over the next seven months for all areas to be considered out of drought. Read more here

Read our updated article on how EA manages abstraction here