The drought announcement comes as the capital bakes under the fourth heatwave of the summer so far, reports Marco Marcelline
The Environment Agency has officially declared that London is in drought, following an exceptionally dry July that has seen just 1% of expected rainfall.
The move follows Thames Water’s announcement last week of a hosepipe ban, and comes on a day of intense heat, with temperatures of 34C forecast in the capital.
Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.
“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.
“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”
Half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency.
A large swathe of central, eastern, and southern England is now experiencing a flash drought – which develops very quickly brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.
Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use.
The seven other areas in drought are East Anglia, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, Devon & Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire).
Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal. We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs. We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.”
The current drought now means there have been three droughts in the past five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026.
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