Droughts

How a drought develops over seasons, what it means for health and water supply, what a hosepipe ban stops you doing, and who manages the response.

Weather

What it is

Every drought is different. Be Ready says the timing and effects on the environment, agriculture, business, public water supply and people all vary. Some droughts are short and intense, caused by a hot dry summer. Others are long and develop over several seasons of below-average rainfall. Some cause problems for crops, others raise concerns at water companies about supplies to customers.

When a drought arrives with a heatwave the health effects include dehydration, increased transmission of infectious diseases and poorer mental health. Everyone is at risk of dehydration in hot weather. The groups most at risk are older adults, babies and young children, people with a serious chronic condition, people with serious mental health problems or on certain medications, people who are physically active outdoors, and homeless people.

What it does to a home

The tap keeps running in most droughts, but restrictions follow. Water companies may impose Temporary Usage Bans, commonly called hosepipe bans. Under one you cannot use a hosepipe connected to the mains to water the garden, fill a paddling pool or wash the car. Ofwat explains what the bans mean. Lower river flows and lake levels make open water more dangerous for swimming and diving. If the supply itself is disrupted, the advice on water supply interruptions applies.

Who warns you

There is no single warning. Be Ready says to check local news and your water company's website regularly for information on water availability, the actions in force and what you can do to help. The Environment Agency publishes monthly water situation reports and weekly rainfall and river flow reports for England. The UK Health Security Agency publishes public health advice on the effects of drought. Natural Resources Wales explains drought planning and management in Wales. The Met Office WeatherReady pages carry seasonal advice.

How the government assesses it

The National Risk Register 2025 says the risk of drought is rising with climate change, hotter summers and growing water use. Its reasonable worst case is severe drought across large parts of South and East England after three consecutive dry winters, with the Midlands and South West also affected and public water supply restrictions needed. It expects significant economic losses, severe environmental damage, and a higher fire risk combined with less water to fight fires. Three dry years would be needed, which allows preparations to begin ahead of time. The Environment Agency and water companies monitor rainfall and resources, national coordination runs through the agency and Defra under the National Drought Group, and tools include limits on abstraction from rivers, public campaigns to cut consumption and Temporary Usage Bans.

Where to look

Your water company's website and local news.
Environment Agency water situation reports at gov.uk.
Ofwat on hosepipe bans and UKHSA on the public health effects of drought, both linked from the Be Ready page.
Related pages: hot weather and heatwaves, water supply interruptions, wildfires.

Before

Install a water butt to capture rain for the garden.
Fit a water saving device in the toilet cistern. Older cisterns use up to 13 litres a flush, modern ones 6 litres or less.
Check the toilet and household appliances for leaks, which can go unnoticed.
Know where the Environment Agency publishes its monthly water situation and weekly rainfall and river flow reports.

During

Keep drinking enough water, and keep washing your hands and keeping up hygiene.
Tell your water company about any disruption or change to your supply.
Find out local conditions before swimming or diving. Low river and lake levels make them more dangerous.
Turn taps off while brushing teeth, shaving or washing hands. A running tap wastes up to 6 litres a minute.
Shower rather than bath, run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full and on eco mode, and use a watering can rather than a hosepipe.
If a Temporary Usage Ban is in force, do not use a hosepipe on the mains to water the garden, fill a paddling pool or wash the car.

After

Keep checking your water company's website and local news for the water management actions still in force.
The National Risk Register says most businesses recover once normal supply resumes, but heavily water-reliant ones can take months or years.
The register says a severe drought poses particularly difficult challenges for the recovery of the natural environment.

Sources

Last updated 29 October 2026. Reviewed 29 October 2026