UK Reservoir Levels 2026: Current Storage by Region
Published: June 24, 2026
The most authoritative source for UK reservoir levels is the Environment Agency's monthly National Water Situation Report for England. As of the May 2026 report (the most recent at the time of writing), reservoir storage across England was characterised as "slightly below average for the time of year across all of England", which is materially different from the heatwave-news framing of an acute national reservoir crisis. The honest picture is that national reservoir storage in 2026 is moderate, while a handful of individual water companies (Southern, Yorkshire) have nonetheless declared Temporary Use Bans because their own supply-area conditions, demand spikes, and drought management plan triggers required them to.
May 2026 EA Picture: Slightly Below Average
The Environment Agency's May 2026 monthly water situation report described reservoir storage as "slightly below average for the time of year across all of England". This is the most recent national-scale summary available at the time of writing and is the data point this page is anchored to. The full report is published as a PDF on gov.uk; we link to the report list below so readers can verify the underlying numbers themselves.
Context from earlier 2026 EA reports is worth keeping in mind: 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 time of year") and East Anglia reservoirs in the 86 to 95 percent band. The trajectory through spring 2026 was therefore from broadly normal-to-above-normal in February to "slightly below average" by May, which is consistent with a moderately dry late spring and early summer, not a national reservoir emergency.
Regional Picture, Summer 2026
The table below summarises the regional picture as of late June 2026, combining the EA's May report with the most recent company-level declarations. Storage figures are stated qualitatively where company-confirmed numbers are not available; for definitive percentages, follow the EA report link or your water company's own performance page.
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National (England) | Slightly below average for the time of year | Per the EA May 2026 monthly report; the picture across England is moderate, not extreme. |
| Thames region | Reservoirs around the long-term average for the time of year | London reservoir aggregate was reported around 94% full in April 2026 (average for season). Thames Water remains on drought monitoring. |
| East Anglia | Reservoirs broadly 86-95% (Apr 2026 snapshot) | Anglian Water identified two supply areas as 'prolonged dry weather' through Q2 2026. |
| Yorkshire / Humber | Below the operational triggers used by Yorkshire Water | Yorkshire Water declared a TUB effective 26 August 2026. Company-level triggers are stricter than the national average picture. |
| South East (Southern, South East Water) | Localised stress despite a moderate national picture | Southern Water declared an active TUB for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from June 2026. Ardingly reservoir and Bewl Water (relevant to South East Water) fell below seasonal norms. |
| 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 May 2026 monthly report and company-published storage data where available. Reservoir levels are updated by the EA monthly; some companies update more frequently. This page reflects the state as of 24 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 moderate national picture with the active TUBs from Southern Water and Yorkshire Water. 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.
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.