Drought could continue into 2027, says water firm

One of the biggest water companies in England has warned that drought conditions could continue into 2027.

Anglian Water, which supplies services to around seven million customers across the East of England, said this year's back-to-back heatwaves had been exacerbated by a "severe" lack of rain.

Levels at its Grafham Water reservoir in Cambridgeshire stand at 60% of full capacity, almost 30% lower than where they should be.

Laura Tuplin, water resources manager at Anglian Water, explained the situation had been made worse by low groundwater and river levels.

"The rivers we abstract from are very low so we can't take water from some of them to protect the environment," she said.

"What we need is a prolonged period of rainfall."

The water company like many others has placed restrictions on its customers, including a hosepipe ban.

In addition, the Environment Agency has implemented a Section 57 notice in parts of East Anglia which limits the amount of water farmers can use for spray irrigation.

However, Anglian Water says plans for two new reservoirs - in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire - will meet future demand and water supplies will not run out.

Tuplin said "we're not at panic stations" but explained: "It's really difficult to tell how long this will go on for, but it will be for the foreseeable future and yes, maybe next year."

The reservoir near Huntingdon is visibly low and a sign warning of deep mud stands on an expanse of cracked earth.

But according to Anglian Water, it has been a lot worse.

In October 1997, Grafham Water was just 44% full.

Despite this, reservoir volunteers like Christopher Faulkner say it is the driest they can remember.

Unlike previous years, he explained, he and colleagues have been clearing brambles that have been exposed by the low water level.

Faulkner, who captains the local fly-fishing association, said the drought had kept his members busy.

"We're here every other Monday clearing it. It's the lowest it's been, certainly in my memory.

"It's not good. The water's too warm and there isn't enough of it".

With less than 1% of the expected rain falling in July, the sustained dry periods described by Anglian Water in the East of England have also affected wildlife.

Parts of the River Great Ouse in Bedford are now covered in a thick layer of bright green duckweed.

Duckweed grows particularly fast on slow-flowing rivers in the heat and can be harmful to other wildlife.

It is a disturbing sight, says Jon Balaam, the chief executive officer of the Great Ouse Rivers Trust.

"It looks really unsightly," he explained.

"Dissolved oxygen levels will be dropping, they'll be low because the water is still warm and it's been like this for many months."

Balaam admits it is "hard not to be gloomy", and that while hosepipe bans have had an impact, they are "not enough".

"We have to conserve more, and get better about managing the water on our land," he continued.

"1976 is the year that people always cite. This year has in many ways been worse than that."

The Environment Agency was approached for comment.

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