Drought declared in Northern England — less water than in 1984
After the driest start to spring in 69 years, UK authorities have declared a drought in the northwest of the country. Water in rivers and reservoirs is rapidly decreasing, and the heat is only worsening the crisis.
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The UK government has officially declared a drought in the northwest of England following an abnormally dry spring.
According to the Environment Agency (EA), March, April, and early May were the driest since 1955. Rivers have dried up, groundwater levels have dropped, and reservoirs are critically low — below the levels seen during major past droughts in 1984, 1995, and 2022.
The drought declaration means increased oversight of water supply companies. United Utilities, the main regional operator, is required to fix leaks, better inform customers, and request permits for additional water extraction if necessary.
Although there has been some rain in recent days, it was not enough to change the situation. Forecasts predict further warming, which could worsen the water shortage.
Water Resources Minister Emma Hardy noted that the government is monitoring the situation and investing in water resilience: nine new reservoirs are under construction, and aging pipes are being upgraded to reduce water loss by 17%.
On June 5, the National Drought Group will convene to assess conditions across England, where weather patterns remain uneven.
Earlier it was reported that England is experiencing an abnormally dry spring — the driest in decades. After heavy rainfall in 2024, nature took a sharp turn: there is almost no precipitation, rivers are drying up, and authorities are warning of an impending large-scale drought.