Reservoir gains have not ended drought

England’s reservoir storage increased following rain at the end of October, but drought conditions continued, according to the Environment Agency’s report dated 6 November 2026, covering 30 October to 5 November. This report covers England only.

Total reservoir storage reached 60.1% as of 3 November, remaining 17% below average for the time of year. Almost two-thirds of reservoirs or reservoir groups recorded an increase, while eight remained exceptionally low.

The reporting week brought an average of 2mm of rain across England. River flows decreased at all reporting sites, with most below normal. Groundwater levels also continued to fall at most sites, as dry soils limited the water reaching underground stores.

Conditions vary across England

Severe drought remained in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and East and West Sussex. The report linked this to continued pressure on water resources serving areas reliant on Ardingly, Wimbleball and several smaller reservoirs.

There were no changes to Environment Agency area drought status during the week. Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, remained in recovery after moving to that status on 28 October.

Farm reservoir refill remained a concern, with some irrigation reservoirs at historic lows. The report said sustained recovery in river flows and above-average winter rainfall were needed to support refill.

What this means for your household

Temporary use bans remained widespread at the report date. Thames Water, Wessex Water, Bristol Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, and South East Water had bans across their whole company areas.

Other bans had geographical exceptions: Anglian Water excluded Hartlepool, South West Water excluded Bournemouth, and Southern Water’s ban covered Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Bristol Water had returned to its business-as-usual operational status, but its temporary use ban remained in place for all customers. The report directs customers to their water company’s website for the latest local information.

For practical household steps, read How much water should a UK household store? and How to store emergency drinking water at home.

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