Severe drought declared across six English counties after the driest spring and summer in over a century

From the Newshound archive · first published 15 October 2026.

The Government has declared a severe drought across parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, after the spring and summer broke records for dryness. Millions of people are already under a hosepipe ban, and South East Water chief executive John Halsall warned supplies are now under 'severe pressure' — with standpipes potentially appearing on British streets for the first time in 50 years. Ardingly Reservoir, serving 280,000 residents in West Sussex and surrounding areas, has dropped to just 20.2 per cent full, down from 22.8 per cent a week ago.

The South East and South West endured their driest April to September in more than a century, with some areas seeing rainfall MORE THAN 80% below average last month.

Halsall admitted efforts to cut water demand had fallen short — usage fell only five per cent against a target of ten per cent.

The hosepipe ban in Sussex is now expected to remain in place until next year, with outages already undermining public confidence in the water supply.