Drought Declared in North West England Regions

The Environment Agency officially declared a drought on 21 May in northwest England, affecting Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, and Lancashire, after the region experienced its third-lowest rainfall between February and April since 1871. Reservoir and river levels have dropped significantly, with national reservoir storage at 84% at the end of April, lower than during the 2022 drought. Despite some recent rainfall, water supplies remain well below normal, and officials warn that hosepipe bans could be introduced if conditions do not improve. There is a 'medium' risk of the drought persisting into summer without sustained rainfall. The UK government has expedited approvals for two major new reservoir projects to address long-term water supply concerns. Environmental experts emphasize that areas relying on surface water storage are particularly susceptible to rapid drought onset, highlighting the need for improved water infrastructure.