Full Breakdown
Severe Drought Hits Devon and Cornwall as Water Supplies Strain
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Drought Declaration and Water Shortages
The Environment Agency has declared a severe drought across east Devon and west Cornwall, triggering heightened monitoring of reservoirs and river flows. Wimbleball Reservoir—supplying roughly 300,000 properties in east Devon, north Devon, Somerset, west Dorset and West Somerset—is at 14.9 % capacity, while Stithians Reservoir in Cornwall sits at 21.9 %. The agency notes that typical reservoir storage for this time of year is about 75 %, underscoring the shortfall.
Impact on Agriculture and Local Economy
Farmers are already feeling the effects. Andrea Semmens, whose family runs the 1,500-acre Raftra Farm near St Levan, reports that potato yields have fallen from an average of 15-16 tonnes per acre to roughly 10-11 tonnes because of the water shortage. She estimates that the loss across 310 acres translates into a substantial reduction in total harvest tonnage, threatening profit margins for the upcoming season. About 56,000 households lie within the severe drought zone in west Cornwall, raising concerns about broader economic repercussions.
Official Statements & Responses
He called for the company to fund a large-scale public information campaign, reduce leakage, accelerate new reservoir plans, and compensate any customers or businesses that suffer losses during the drought. Brazil warned that further supply-limiting measures could seriously impact both the regional economy and daily life.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As a council we will be doing all we can to save water while still delivering vital public services but we cannot allow South West Water to fail again and will be holding them to account in the months to come,” — Brazil. Farmers
- “When you're growing 310 acres, that's quite a lot of tons of potatoes that we've missed out on.” — Andrea Semmens