A severe drought was declared in parts of southern England, enabling water restrictions due to low reservoir levels and pressure on water supplies.

What it means

The UK Environment Agency has officially declared a severe drought in parts of southern England, a formal status that licenses enhanced monitoring, public water-use appeals, and potential restrictions such as hosepipe bans. The declaration follows prolonged dry weather, low river flows, and depleted groundwater levels, signalling serious water resource stress.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

The claim rests on a primary government announcement (likely from the Environment Agency) and is reported by Sky News, a credible news outlet. Without the full text of the declaration, the precise geographic boundaries and trigger thresholds are not independently confirmable, but the core fact of a severe drought declaration is solid.

How new

The story appears genuinely new, with no evidence it is resurfaced or older material.

Go deeper

• Evening Standard — first to publish