Environment Agency declares drought across more than half of England

The Environment Agency formally declared a drought on 29 July for more than half of England, Affinity Water has said. The company said the declaration covers all of its Central and East regions¹.

Affinity Water, which supplies those regions, said warmer weather means everyone naturally uses more water around the home, to keep hydrated, stay cool and water the garden. It said it plans for hot weather using years of data and expects higher demand, but that demand across its regions can sometimes be so high that water is used faster than storage tanks can be refilled and pumped through the pipes, which can affect the pressure coming through taps¹.

The company said that to help maintain supply for everyone during periods of high demand it may make careful adjustments to water pressure in some areas of its network, and that it is committed to keeping this at a level at which customers' supply remains fully usable. It said teams work around the clock to keep storage tanks topped up, run pumps at full capacity and fix leaks, and that it is investing in its network to reduce leaks and improve resilience¹.

The company's page also carried a notice headed "Interruption to your water supply - Hertford - SG14". No further detail on that interruption was given in the text reviewed, and no restrictions such as hosepipe bans were reported there.

Why it matters for households

Households in Affinity Water's Central and East regions are within the area covered by the drought declaration, which the company says includes more than half of England¹. Affinity Water said hot weather and supply interruptions can be more difficult for some customers, and that its free Priority Services Register provides tailored support for when it is needed most¹.

On pressure, the company said that if customers are experiencing very low water pressure, for example if they cannot fill a glass of water, they should visit its alerts page to check for any known issues in their area¹. It said customers can help their community by using less, which will make a big difference, meaning there is more to go around, and that simple changes at home can help, such as using a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler¹. The stages by which drought is declared in England, and what each means, are set out in the guide to how drought is declared in England; the wider household picture is covered in Heatwaves and Drought: A Household Guide.

What happens next

No dated next steps were given in the company's statement beyond the drought declaration of 29 July. The company pointed customers to its alerts page for known issues in their area and to its Priority Services Register for support¹. How restrictions are applied through drought permits, orders and emergency rota cuts is explained in the guide to drought permits, orders and emergency rota cuts.