UK reservoirs could run dry within weeks, ministers warned

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 11:14 · Archive

Ministers have been warned that UK reservoirs could empty within weeks, potentially affecting water supplies before Christmas.

The government's emergency committee Cobra is meeting twice weekly to manage a critical water shortage affecting south-west England and Sussex. Ministers have been warned that reservoirs could run completely dry within weeks, potentially leaving families without running water before Christmas. Officials have prepared a confidential 'reasonable worst-case scenario' projecting water stocks could fall to zero per cent. Such a collapse would cause taps to run dry in homes and disrupt construction at a nuclear power station.

Two major reservoirs are already severely depleted. Wimbleball reservoir in Somerset, which supplies over 400,000 people, is at 13 per cent capacity. Ardingly reservoir in West Sussex, serving 280,000 customers, is at 17 per cent capacity. The crisis stems from record-breaking summer heatwaves that triggered widespread drought conditions. Sussex and the south-west experienced their driest April to September period in over a century. Despite two autumn storms, water supplies remain critically low and hosepipe bans persist across England.

Water companies including Southern Water, South East Water and South West Water have urged Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle to introduce non-essential use bans. These would prevent businesses from operating car washes, irrigating sports pitches and refilling private swimming pools. GB News reports that Yorkshire was formally placed under drought conditions last week, meaning virtually all of England is now affected.

How it is being reported

• Britons warned reservoirs could run dry within weeks as secret 'Day Zero' plans drawn upEngland's reservoirs could be completely depleted within weeks, potentially leaving families without running water before Christmas, Government ministers have been warned. Cobra, the government's emergency committee, is now meeting twice weekly to discuss the worsening water crisis affecting south-west England and Sussex. A confidential "reasonable worst-case scenario" prepared by officials projects that water stocks could fall to zero per cent in a matter of weeks. Should no intervention take place, household taps could stop flowing, and construction at a nuclear power station could be…GB News · 26 Oct, 10:38
• 'Day Zero' where UK reservoirs run dry could happen before Christmas, ministers are secretly warnedThe government's emergency committee, Cobra, is meeting twice a week for crisis talks about water provision in the south-west of England and Sussex.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 02:07

In this story: Cobra · Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle · Somerset · West Sussex · Sussex · South West England · Wimbleball reservoir · Ardingly reservoir

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