Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought, prompting calls from the infrastructure sector for greater investment in water resilience.

The National Drought Group says 73.1% of England is now experiencing a “flash drought” – which develops quickly and is brought on my very low rainfall combined with high temperatures. 

It means 45 million people are now in a drought area with more than 27 million people living under restrictions on water use. All regions of the country are experiencing pressure on their water resources - with increasing impacts across agriculture, public supplies, navigation and the environment.  

The changes follow the driest July in 190 years and just 5% of expected rainfall this month to date. There are warnings of more dry weather and another heatwave on the way, with temperatures tipped to reach the mid-30s in some places. This year, there have been 34 days with temperatures that have reached 30C or above somewhere in England, including 13 consecutive days in July.

Water Minister Emma Hardy has told water companies to do more to cut leaks, which increase in the hot weather as pipes move in dry soils.  

Head of environment and energy at the Met Office, Sarah Davies,  said: “July 2026 was one of the most remarkable months in the UK’s climate record. England and Wales both recorded their driest and sunniest July on record, together with periods of exceptionally high temperatures. These conditions have significantly increased pressure on water resources in some parts of the country and contributed to the ongoing drought concerns.”

By 2055, the government projects England faces a public water supply shortfall of five billion litres per day - roughly a third of current usage. An extra one billion litres daily will also be needed for the wider economy, energy, and tech sectors.

David Symons, future ready global lead at WSP, said the current drought highlights both immediate and long-term challenges for the UK's water system.

“While outdoor watering with hosepipes represents a relatively small share of annual household water use, it can become one of the biggest drivers of peak demand during hot, dry weather. In hot summer periods, outdoor use can account for 30–50% of daily household consumption for households with gardens, and a running hosepipe can use around 900 litres of water per hour.

“Temporary hosepipe restrictions can therefore help reduce pressure on water supplies during droughts. However, the UK's longer-term water resilience challenge depends on reducing leakage, increasing storage capacity through measures such as new reservoirs, and encouraging greater water efficiency.

“Many water-stressed countries have adopted rising block tariffs, where the unit price of water increases as consumption rises, helping to encourage more efficient use. Alongside this, practical measures such as rainwater harvesting can help households make better use of wetter winter periods.

“As climate extremes become more common, we need to build greater resilience into our water system to ensure reliable supplies during increasingly hot and dry summers."

Rainfall totals for July, ranged from 1% of the expected average for south-east England to 26% in north-west England. Some parts of Hampshire, Isle of Wight and West Sussex have not had a   day for 59 days.

Reservoir levels have fallen to 69% - 11.6% lower than to be expected for this time of year. England reservoir storage fell 16% during July, the greatest reduction in raw storage in July for at least 30 years.

Defra and the Environment Agency continue to work with water companies on their Water Resource Management Plans, including new reservoirs, desalination plants, and multiple water transfers to help secure future supplies.