Water supplies prioritised in four drought areas, with environmental duties retained

The Environment Agency has been directed to prioritise public water supplies in water resource zones around Wimbleball, Ardingly, Roadford and Colliford reservoirs, where severe drought has been declared.

The ministerial direction took effect on 15 October 2026. It seeks to preserve reservoir storage and reduce the risk of interruptions to essential supplies, while explicitly retaining the agency’s statutory duties, including environmental protection.

What the direction permits

Where necessary, the agency is instructed to use Local Enforcement Positions relating to temporary reductions in environmental releases and changes to abstraction constraints. These decisions must be proportionate, necessary and supported by evidence, enhanced monitoring, mitigation and restoration.

The text does not authorise unlawful activity or remove environmental obligations. It also does not announce that rota cuts are being introduced: reducing their likelihood is one of the stated aims.

Review and reporting

The agency must work with Defra, affected water companies and Local Resilience Forums. When requested in writing by Defra, it must report on the measures supported, water retained or made available, and environmental impacts and mitigation.

The direction will be reviewed monthly and expires when severe-drought status has been lifted from all the specified areas. The archive photograph accompanying this report shows Wimbleball Lake in June 2022 and does not establish current reservoir levels.