Parts of England have been declared in severe drought for the first time since 1995 after record summer heat and months of below-average rainfall, leaving reservoir levels well below seasonal norms. The government raised drought status to the highest level in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex and instructed the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supply over environmental needs where necessary, allowing water companies to retain more reservoir volu

Parts of England have been declared in severe drought for the first time since 1995 after record summer heat and months of below-average rainfall, leaving reservoir levels well below seasonal norms. The government raised drought status to the highest level in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex and instructed the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supply over environmental needs where necessary, allowing water companies to retain more reservoir volume. Extreme heat has sparked wildfires and crop damage; rising demand, together with existing network leaks and supply interruptions, has increased pressure on water systems. Household supply has not been cut, but some areas face hosepipe bans; ministers have ordered daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels and stepped-up checks on water abstraction.