Severe drought in parts of the South West and South East: what it means at home

Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex are now officially in severe drought. Your taps stay on: the government says customer water supplies will be uninterrupted. For most households, the practical side is the hosepipe ban that’s already in place and a request to use water carefully over the coming weeks.

The government declared severe drought in those areas on 15 October 2026, after the South East and South West had their driest April to September in over a century, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Water companies there now have to check reservoir and river levels every day and carry out tougher water quality checks. Local Resilience Forums have also been stood up so that support can be organised quickly if it’s ever needed.

What severe drought means for your home

Severe drought is a stage in the way England manages a drought. In Defra’s words, declaring it makes sure “proactive steps are taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs”.

The National Drought Group, which includes government, regulators, the Met Office and water companies, met again on 19 October. In its update the next day, Water Minister Emma Hardy repeated that “customer water supplies will not be interrupted”. Water company bosses told the group they’re sending less water from reservoirs into local rivers, finding leaks faster and moving water around their networks to support the lowest reservoirs. Where appropriate, some are also lowering water pressure overnight, so your water may run a little more gently late at night.

Hosepipe ban or non-essential use ban?

A hosepipe ban (officially a temporary use ban) applies to households. The Environment Agency’s weekly drought report for 9 to 15 October lists ten water companies with one in place across all or part of their areas. They include South West Water (everywhere except Bournemouth), South East Water (its whole area) and Southern Water (Hampshire and the Isle of Wight). Each company sets its own rules.

A non-essential use ban goes further, but it’s aimed at businesses. South West Water’s application would restrict things like vehicle washing, cleaning non-domestic buildings and watering plants on commercial premises in Exeter, Exmouth, Crediton, Sidmouth, Tiverton and the surrounding areas, plus a small part of Dorset including Lyme Regis. The company says household customers wouldn’t be affected and stay under the hosepipe ban.

South West Water applied on 6 October and South East Water on 2 October. Southern Water applied back on 31 July and, according to the Environment Agency, is still waiting for the Environment Secretary’s decision. We hadn’t seen a decision on any of the three when we checked on 20 October.

Why autumn rain won’t end it quickly

The National Drought Group heard that wetter weather is expected to spread in later this week, which could help. After a long dry spell, though, South West Water explains that rain first has to soak back into dry soils and the wider environment. Then rivers return to their usual levels for the time of year, and only after that can reservoirs properly recover.

The Environment Agency says many water companies need further significant rainfall to get back to normal. It also says England needs well above average rainfall over the next six months to be out of drought by the start of spring. Expect hosepipe bans to stay for a while, even after a wet week or two.

Three things to do

1. Check your water company’s page

Your water company’s website shows which restrictions apply where you live, what they cover and who’s exempt. It’s the company named on your water bill. South West Water customers can start with its hosepipe ban page. The Environment Agency’s report lists every company with a ban in place.

2. Cut use where it’s easy

Defra and the Environment Agency are both asking everyone to use water wisely over the coming weeks. Philip Duffy, the Environment Agency’s chief executive, says recovery “depends on both rainfall and how much water we use”.

3. Join the Priority Services Register if someone relies on water for health reasons

Water companies run their own Priority Services Register, separate from the ones for gas and electricity. If anyone at home relies on water for a medical condition, or would find it hard to manage without running water for a while, it’s worth registering. It’s free, and it tells your water company to offer extra help if there’s ever a problem with your supply. What’s on offer varies by company, so check its website. Our Priority Services Register guide explains who can join and how to sign up.

A few suggestions from us

These are our own suggestions, not official guidance.

• Start with what you already own. Bottled water you already keep covers a short interruption of any kind, such as a burst main, without buying anything. Our guide to how much water to store per person shows how far it goes, and our ten-minute household check covers the rest of the house.
• Bookmark your water company’s restrictions page so you hear about changes from the source.
• We’d run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they’re full, and keep a washing-up bowl in the sink.
• If you look out for an older relative in a drought area, ask whether they’d qualify for the water Priority Services Register.

Sources checked 20 October 2026: Defra: severe drought declared in parts of England (15 October 2026); Defra and Environment Agency: water company bosses update National Drought Group (20 October 2026); Environment Agency: drought in England, 9 to 15 October 2026; South West Water: non-essential use ban.