UK Reservoir Levels 2026: Current Storage by Region
Published: June 24, 2026 · Updated:
The most authoritative source for UK reservoir levels is the Environment Agency's "Dry weather and drought in England" weekly report on gov.uk. As of the 18 to 26 June 2026 report (week ending 23 June), national reservoir storage for England was approximately 87.5 percent, at the long-term average for the time of year. The national picture is NOT a historic crisis; it is moderate. The regional picture is the opposite of moderate in specific places: the EA names Blagdon, Wimbleball and the Dove Group as notably low, records below-normal levels in the faster-responding chalk aquifers across Yorkshire and Wessex, Anglian Water reports rivers at notably or exceptionally low levels after the second driest spring on record in its region, and South East Water's Kent distribution network has reached near-record peak demand. Both pictures are true at once. This page explains the EA's national figure, the regional divergence that is driving company-level TUBs, and the "lowest in a decade" press narrative that needs careful framing rather than blanket adoption.
Late June 2026 EA Picture: National at the Long-Term Average
The Environment Agency's 18 to 26 June 2026 weekly "Dry weather and drought in England" report puts national reservoir storage at approximately 87.5 percent for England for the week ending 23 June 2026. The EA describes this as "the long-term average for the time of year". Storage rose marginally in early June following late spring rainfall, then dropped back to the long-term average as the late-June heatwave drove demand sharply higher.
Context from earlier 2026 EA monthly reports: February 2026 saw rainfall around 170 percent of the long-term average, which refilled aquifers and reservoirs after a dry late-2025. April 2026 reported London reservoirs around 94 percent full (average for the season). May 2026 reported reservoir storage slightly below average. The trajectory through 2026 has been broadly normal-to-above-normal in February to at the long-term average by late June. This is materially different from the "historic crisis" framing that some press coverage has used.
The "Lowest in a Decade" Press Narrative, Honestly
A campaign-sourced phrase widely picked up in late June 2026 press describes UK reservoirs as "the lowest in a decade". Read as a national average, that claim is not supported by the EA's own weekly figure of approximately 87.5 percent (at the long-term average). Read as a regional claim about specific reservoirs (Blagdon, Wimbleball and the Dove Group are named as notably low by the EA; some southern reservoirs are stressed), it is closer to true. This site cites the EA's weekly figure for the national picture, regional figures with their source for specifics, and notes when press narrative outruns the data.
Regional Picture, Summer 2026
The table below summarises the regional picture as of late June 2026, combining the EA's 18 to 26 June weekly report with the most recent company-level declarations. Storage figures are stated as percentages where company-confirmed numbers are available; otherwise qualitatively. For definitive percentages, follow the EA report link or your water company's own performance page.
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National (England) | Approximately 87.5% storage, at the long-term average | EA 18 to 26 June 2026 weekly report, week ending 23 June. National storage rose marginally in early June and dropped back to the long-term average for the time of year. |
| Yorkshire / Humber | No TUB in force; below-normal chalk aquifer levels | The EA 18 to 26 June 2026 report records below-normal levels in the faster-responding chalk aquifers across Yorkshire, and Yorkshire Water at drought level 1 in its Grid resource zone with no dry weather concerns. Yorkshire Water reports resources healthier than a year ago. Its 2025 TUB was lifted on 10 December 2025. |
| South East Water (Kent supply) | Acute distribution-network pressure (not strictly a reservoir crisis) | South East Water TUB for Kent only from 3 July 2026. EA report notes the TUB is to manage peak demand pressure, not a supply-side shortage. |
| Southern Water (Hampshire + IoW) | TUB in force from 00:01 on 10 July 2026 | The River Test, which supplies most of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, is running about 25 per cent below normal for the time of year and Southern Water describes its levels as critically low. Approximately 1 million customers affected. Sussex is not included. |
| Thames region | London reservoirs around the long-term average for the time of year | Thames Water declared a formal Temporary Use Ban on 21 July 2026, in force from 00:01 on Thursday 23 July, citing demand about 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and 7% in London rather than empty reservoirs. |
| Anglian Water (East of England) | TUB in force from 10 July 2026, enforceable 01:01 on 11 July | Second driest spring on record in the region, with only 39 per cent of expected rainfall. Anglian reports rivers at notably or exceptionally low levels and reservoirs less full than usual. The ban covers the region except Hartlepool, which is supplied by the separate Hartlepool Water. |
| North West / Northumbrian | Near or at normal storage for the season | United Utilities and Northumbrian Water operating normally as of late June 2026. |
| South West (Wessex, South West Water) | Near normal | Wessex and South West Water operating normally as of late June 2026. |
Figures from the EA 18 to 26 June 2026 weekly report and company-published storage data where available. EA weekly reports during drought-status periods update more frequently than the monthly summaries; some companies update daily. This page reflects the state as of 29 June 2026.
Why Companies Declare TUBs Even When National Reservoirs Look Normal
This is the most important question for anyone trying to reconcile the EA's national near-normal picture (87.5 percent storage, at the long-term average) with the active TUBs from Anglian Water, Southern Water, South East Water (Kent), and Cambridge Water in July 2026. The short answer is that TUBs are not declared from national reservoir averages. They are declared from each water company's own drought management plan, which is a regulator-approved document setting out specific triggers based on that company's storage, raw water availability, demand pattern, and contingency margin. South East Water has explicitly stated its Kent TUB is to manage distribution-network pressure during near-record demand, not a reservoir crisis. Cambridge Water has no impounding reservoirs at all: its ban turns on chalk aquifer recharge and chalk stream flows. Both are valid TUB triggers under the company plans even when the national figure looks near-normal.
Three things can drive a company to a TUB even when national figures look near-normal. First, localised supply-area stress: a company with reservoirs in a single drier-than-average sub-region can hit its triggers while neighbouring companies do not. Second, demand spikes: a sustained 30 to 40 percent demand surge during a heatwave can overwhelm the supply system regardless of reservoir level. Third, conservative drought management plan triggers: the regulator requires companies to act early and predictably rather than wait until storage is critical, which means TUBs sometimes feel out of step with the national picture by design.
The implication for households is simple: do not look at the national reservoir picture and conclude that your local water company is over-reacting. The company's own data is the relevant input, and that data is internal to the company's planning. Use the postcode checker to identify your company and read its current TUB notice or status page.
Verifying the Data: Source Links
Primary sources used on this page:
- EA Water Situation: national monthly reports for England 2026 (gov.uk).
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Hydrological Summary for the UK (monthly).
- Individual water company performance and reservoir pages (linked from each company's page in this site).
Update Cadence
This page is refreshed when each new EA monthly report is published (typically the first two weeks of the following month). For company-level changes (new TUBs declared, restrictions lifted), see the UK hosepipe ban hub which is the regularly-updated status page for every company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does UK reservoir data come from?
The authoritative source is the Environment Agency's monthly National Water Situation Report for England, published on gov.uk. It is compiled from rainfall, river flow, groundwater, soil moisture, and reservoir storage measurements taken across England. Individual water companies also publish their own reservoir levels on their corporate websites (Thames Water performance page, Southern Water reservoir page, etc.). The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology / UKCEH publishes a parallel Hydrological Summary for the UK each month.
Why are some companies declaring TUBs when reservoirs look near-normal?
Because national reservoir storage is not the same as supply-area stress. A water company declares a Temporary Use Ban based on its own supply-area conditions, which include its specific reservoir or river abstraction storage, demand spikes from a heatwave, and the company's drought management plan triggers. A region with reservoirs at 90 percent of average can still see a company-level TUB if its individual storage is low, or if peak demand has exceeded supply capacity, or if its drought trigger thresholds have been crossed. TUBs are company decisions; national reservoir averages are background context.
How often are EA water situation reports published?
Monthly. The National Water Situation Report for England covers the previous month and is typically published in the first two weeks of the following month (so the May 2026 report was published in June 2026). During declared drought periods the Environment Agency may publish more frequent statements or weekly briefings, but the formal monthly report remains the structured authoritative source.
What counts as 'below normal' reservoir storage?
The Environment Agency uses a 'category for the time of year' framework: exceptionally high, notably high, above normal, normal, below normal, notably low, and exceptionally low. The classification compares current storage to the long-term average for that specific month, not to total reservoir capacity. A reservoir at 80 percent capacity in November is normal; the same 80 percent in February is below normal because winter rainfall should have refilled it.
Have UK reservoirs ever hit drought-emergency levels?
Yes. The 1976 drought saw reservoirs fall to historic lows, with standpipes and rota cuts imposed in parts of South Wales, Yorkshire, and the South West. The 1995-96 drought led to widespread TUBs and drought orders. The 2022 drought saw multiple declarations and the first widespread TUBs in a decade. Emergency-level lows (standpipes / rota cuts) have not been seen since 1976; near-emergency lows have occurred several times since.
What is the link between reservoir levels and the lawn in my garden?
Indirectly: low reservoir storage in your water company's supply area increases the probability of a TUB, which restricts hosepipe use on your lawn. Directly, the EA's data is not about your lawn at all. For the lawn-care implications of a TUB in your area, see our guide on keeping a UK lawn alive during a hosepipe ban; for the legal mechanism see the explainer on the £1,000 fine; for your specific company use the postcode checker.