Full Breakdown
Sussex and Southwest England Grapple with Persistent Severe Drought
By Drooid · · How we work
The Drought Situation Amid Recent Storms
Storm Austen and Storm Boelo brought heavy rain and wind to Sussex, toppling part of Brighton’s West Pier and damaging infrastructure in Newhaven and Angmering. Despite the wet weather, the Environment Agency (EA) maintains a “severe drought” declaration because reservoir levels remain critically low. The EA links the drought to the South East’s driest April-to-September period in over a century, leaving major storage sites depleted.
Background: Historic Dry Spell and Reservoir Decline
The summer’s record-breaking heatwaves prompted a government drought declaration. Satellite imagery showed Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor, which supplies drinking water to roughly 400,000 people in Devon, fell from full capacity in March 2026 to just 13 % by October, an “exceptionally low” level per the EA. In Sussex, Ardingly Reservoir, serving 280,000 customers, dropped from 19.4 % on 14 October to 17.1 % capacity, underpinning the EA’s decision to extend drought-permit powers for water companies.
Reservoir Levels and Water Supply Pressures
- Ardingly Reservoir (West Sussex): 19.4 % on 14 Oct; latest 17.1 % (South East Water).
- Wimbleball Lake (Somerset): 13 % in October (EA).
- Cheddar Reservoir (Somerset): 31 % full; supplies North Somerset and Bristol (Bristol Water).
- Cheddar 2 Reservoir (proposed): Planned 20 million litres, not expected to operate until 2035 (South West Water).
No new major reservoirs have been built in England since 1992. In 2024 the UK government pledged nine new reservoirs by 2050, including South East Water’s Broad Oak site near Canterbury, with an outline planning application targeted for 2028 and construction slated for 2031.
Water Company Responses
South East Water announced a phased reduction in daily releases from Ardingly Reservoir into the River Ouse to safeguard drinking-water supplies. CEO John Halsall said the approach allows river flow to be monitored “to minimise any environmental impacts” while preserving a minimum downstream flow at the Barcombe Water Treatment Works.
Expert Commentary on Water Management
- Hannah Cloke, professor of meteorology, University of Reading: Storing water is “a really difficult problem,” and building new reservoirs faces cost and land-use challenges.
- Nicci Russell, Water Wise: “We’re actually all using double per person on average than we used to 50 years ago and… water often isn’t there when we need it.”
Future Infrastructure Plans
The Cheddar 2 Reservoir project aims to augment supply for the South-West, but its decade-long timeline means short-term water-use reductions remain essential. South East Water’s Broad Oak proposal, if approved, would add capacity after 2035. EA research indicates England would need 120 % of typical rainfall over the next seven months to lift drought status across all regions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're actually all using double per person on average than we used to 50 years ago and... water often isn't there when we need it.” — Water Wise
- “Under this new agreement, we will reduce the rate of release in a managed, phased manner day-by-day.” — John Halsall, South East Water CEO