13 August 2025
Drought and hosepipe bans continue across England
Five regions of England are officially in drought and hosepipe bans are in place, with the National Drought Group classifying the situation as a nationally significant incident.
Drought news
We cover news from public bodies and utility companies for UK households on power cuts, weather, water, health, safety and security. Each report includes the date and sources, with links to our guides.
August 2025
13 August 2025
SFRS issues very high wildfire warning for Scotland until 19 August
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire risk warning covering parts of Scotland from 13 to 19 August 2025, its eleventh such alert this year.
1 August 2025
Temporary Use Bans implemented in Yorkshire and South of England
Temporary Use Bans were put in place in parts of Yorkshire and several southern counties after the driest start to the year since 1976, with new polling showing majority public support for the…
July 2025
31 July 2025
Southern Water applies for Drought Order and Non-Essential Use Ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Southern Water has applied to DEFRA for a Drought Order on the River Test and a Non-Essential Use Ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, after the Environment Agency declared drought in both areas.
31 July 2025
Yorkshire Water applies for drought permits and orders
Yorkshire Water has applied for drought permits and orders as the next stage of its drought plan, saying reservoir stocks have fallen to 47.4%, well below the seasonal average.
29 July 2025
Environment Agency declares drought across more than half of England
The Environment Agency declared a drought on 29 July covering more than half of England, including all of Affinity Water's Central and East regions, as hot weather drove high demand.
29 July 2025
Drought officially declared in Norfolk
A drought was officially declared in Norfolk on 29 July 2025 after very low rainfall and high temperatures, with an Anglian Water hosepipe ban in force and the National Drought Group meeting weekly.
21 July 2025
Environment Agency declares Solent and South Downs in prolonged dry weather
The Environment Agency has declared the Solent and South Downs in prolonged dry weather, as Southern Water brings in a hosepipe ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
21 July 2025
Southern Water announces hosepipe ban for Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Southern Water has announced a Temporary Use Ban, commonly known as a hosepipe ban, for household customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, legally enforceable from 9am on Monday 21 July 2025.
18 July 2025
Extreme wildfire warning issued for East of Scotland and Shetland
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has declared an extreme risk of wildfire across the east of Scotland and throughout Shetland, with the warning in place until Monday 21 July 2025.
11 July 2025
Fire chiefs issue urgent wildfire and water safety advice ahead of heatwave weekend
The National Fire Chiefs Council has issued urgent wildfire and water safety advice ahead of a hot weekend, after an Amber heat alert for large parts of England and 564 wildfires this year.
11 July 2025
Extreme wildfire danger assessment issued for Scotland
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum have issued an extreme wildfire danger assessment for Scotland from Friday 11 July to Monday 14 July 2025.
11 July 2025
Anglian Water imposes hosepipe ban in Norfolk
Anglian Water imposed a hosepipe ban across Norfolk on 11 July 2025 after a long-term rainfall deficit, and the company says restrictions will stay in place until water resources recover.
8 July 2025
Hosepipe restrictions come into effect in Yorkshire
Yorkshire Water brought in temporary hosepipe restrictions across Yorkshire on 11 July 2025 after drought was declared in the region, following the driest and warmest spring on record.
1 July 2025
Environment Agency declares drought in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Southern Water has applied to DEFRA for a Drought Order on the River Test and a Non-Essential Use Ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight after the Environment Agency declared drought there.
June 2025
20 June 2025
Highest daily water demand recorded in Yorkshire
Yorkshire Water reports that daily water demand in Yorkshire peaked at 1.479 billion litres on 20 June 2025, about 200 million litres above the region's average daily supply.
19 June 2025
Wildfire incidents in England and Wales pass 500 mark for the year
National Resilience data shows fire and rescue services in England and Wales responded to 564 wildfire incidents by 19 June 2025, more than double the figure for the same period in 2022.
18 June 2025
Wildfire warning issued ahead of threatened heatwave
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a wildfire warning for heathlands, fields and cliffsides, urging people to enjoy the coming sunshine safely as dry, hot conditions raise the risk…
May 2025
9 May 2025
NIFRS appeals to public to act safely as wildfire weather warning continues across Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has appealed to the public to act safely in the countryside as a wildfire weather warning continues across Northern Ireland and firefighters tackle fires near…
7 May 2025
Very high wildfire danger assessment covers whole of Scotland
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warned of a very high to extreme wildfire risk across Scotland from 7 to 12 May 2025, with danger assessments issued alongside the Scottish Wildfire Forum.