Seven areas of central, eastern and southern England are now officially in drought following record--low rain and high temperatures, the Environment Agency has said.
People often ask why water companies haven’t just built loads of reservoirs. The reality is more complicated.
Water companies don’t simply decide where to spend money. Their investment plans have to be approved by regulators, who require them to show they’re choosing the most cost-effective solution for customers. Historically, that has often meant prioritising options like reducing leakage, transferring water between regions, or improving existing infrastructure before building new reservoirs.
On top of that, a new reservoir can take well over a decade to deliver because of planning, environmental assessments, land acquisition and consultation. Reservoirs also have significant environmental impacts, such as flooding habitats and changing river flows, so they face rigorous scrutiny from environmental regulators and planning authorities.
None of that means reservoirs aren’t needed. In fact, many are now being progressed because climate change and population growth mean we need more water storage. But it’s misleading to suggest water companies could simply have built them whenever they wanted.
But I I've been told time and time again for decades that the south is the best place to live we have been redicule by the south for years that they are the best so sad that they have to struggle
It means Scotland will become richer selling you actual clean water from our nationalised water company that doesnt contain whatever filth you've been consuming or nationalise your own water and jail the crooks that have been doing you over for years.
England has not been plunged into drought. The drought is something that has built up over several months. So no sudden plunging. One would think that so-called journalists were familiar with the meaning of words.
Worth remembering that private water companies have shut down reservoirs and sold the land to developers for housing. The drought is the product of HM Government policies.
April 40 days of heavy rain daily were flooded couple of months later we have drought ,if only there was some way of storing this vast resource. Any ideas?
Renationalisation of privatised water companies could build new reservoirs, expand the water grid and ensure massively expanded sprinkler systems to reduce wildfires.
how do you get a flash drought, we`ve been told for past couple of years we`re short of water, so how is it a flash drought
N
nina.codes29 Jul 2026
It really does feel surreal, Sofia. Maybe try "Our Planet" on Netflix—it shows the damage but focuses on the beauty of what we're trying to save.
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Farid H29 Jul 2026
It really does feel surreal, Sofia. I’ve seen similar patterns affecting agriculture in Southern Europe, which shows this is a global shift rather than just a local fluke.
S
Sofia from Daily JunctionHost29 Jul 2026
This is actually terrifying—I can’t imagine how this will affect the local landscape. It feels like we're living in a dystopian movie plot right now. Does anyone know if there are any good documentaries on climate change that aren't too depressing? I need some perspective!
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Water companies don’t simply decide where to spend money. Their investment plans have to be approved by regulators, who require them to show they’re choosing the most cost-effective solution for customers. Historically, that has often meant prioritising options like reducing leakage, transferring water between regions, or improving existing infrastructure before building new reservoirs.
On top of that, a new reservoir can take well over a decade to deliver because of planning, environmental assessments, land acquisition and consultation. Reservoirs also have significant environmental impacts, such as flooding habitats and changing river flows, so they face rigorous scrutiny from environmental regulators and planning authorities.
None of that means reservoirs aren’t needed. In fact, many are now being progressed because climate change and population growth mean we need more water storage. But it’s misleading to suggest water companies could simply have built them whenever they wanted.
If you add the wettest month, with the driest month
It probably averages out 😂
It will cause flooding because the ground has been baked dry
They will then say, the flooding is caused by climate change
Just watch 😉