Somerset declared in drought as dry weather continues

Somerset has been declared as being in drought after weeks of hot, dry weather have left rivers, reservoirs and groundwater levels under pressure.

The county is among the areas covered by the Environment Agency’s Wessex drought area, which also includes Dorset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.

The declaration comes after July saw just 7% of expected rainfall across England, falling to 1% across southern England. The dry conditions follow a second consecutive summer of drought, with impacts being felt by farmers, wildlife and water supplies.

The Environment Agency said rivers are running low, farmers are harvesting some crops early and the risk of wildfires has increased.

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.”

The Environment Agency is increasing monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater sources.

Residents are being asked to use water carefully, with small changes such as taking shorter showers, turning off taps when brushing teeth and fixing leaks helping to reduce demand.

The Environment Agency said current water reserves should be enough for the coming months, but sustained rainfall will be needed to improve conditions.

The latest drought is the third in five years, following droughts in 2022 and 2025. The Environment Agency said the weather had shifted dramatically this year, from a very wet winter which helped replenish supplies to an exceptionally hot and dry summer.