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Households in Greater Manchester have been issued a water usage warning following a drought status update. The public are being encouraged to use water carefully as officials warn that England must brace for a prolonged drought until 2026. The national drought group, comprising the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, convened on Thursday due to autumn rainfall proving insufficient to counterbalance the dry conditions of spring and summer. The expert group has predicted that unless there is a significant increase in rainfall in the upcoming months, the drought conditions are likely to persist into next year. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The recent wet weather has alleviated shortages in two areas – Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. Officials have announced that these regions have transitioned from drought status to drought recovery status as of Thursday. But the group also warned their position is fragile and with further dry weather expected, these areas could evert back to drought. Households in these regions are therefore being urged to adopt water conservation measures, such as turning off taps when not in use and installing a water butt to collect rainfall. All sectors – including water companies, agriculture, navigation, and energy – have been instructed to begin taking steps to bolster their resilience for an extended drought. Farmers have been advised to review their licences for drawing water from rivers, consult with the Environment Agency if they anticipate needing flexibility, consider increasing reservoir storage and collaborate with their neighbours to share water. In addition to hosepipe bans implemented by Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, South East Water and Southern Water in certain areas, further measures have been introduced which will remain until their water resources situation improves. The national drought group has commended the public for adhering to these restrictions, stating that it has helped conserve more water in local rivers and lakes. The Met Office has announced that the summer of 2025 was the hottest since records began in 1884, while the spring was the driest in 132 years. As of October 28, provisional data from the Met Office indicated that England had received only 61% of its expected annual rainfall, when typically around 80 percent would be expected at this point in the year. Furthermore, only 41 percent of reservoirs are less than half full, when normally about 76 percent should be full at this time. At a meeting in central London on Thursday, the national drought group stated that England needs at least 100 percent of the average rainfall – 482mm – to largely recover from the drought by the end of March. To put this into perspective, they added that only two months of 2025 have seen more than 100% so far. Helen Wakeham, chairwoman of the group, commented: "The recent rain is very welcome, but it needs to be sustained over the next six months to ensure we are ready for next year. "We need a lot more rain this winter to fill up our rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater. "Even if it is wet outside, I urge people to use water as efficiently as possible to protect the environment and public water supplies." The strain on water resources has been escalating in recent years due to the competing needs of public use, businesses, agriculture and the environment, as well as the increasing effects of climate change. Ms Wakeham cautioned that as global warming's impacts intensify, the country must brace itself for more frequent droughts in the future. "Securing our water resources needs to be a national priority," she stated. "We expect water companies to continue their water-saving messaging, even through the winter, as well as carry on reducing leaks." In preparation, water firms have been instructed to encourage more efficient water usage and step up their efforts to minimise leakage. They are also required to ensure their assets, such as pipes, pumps and reservoirs, are functioning properly and submit applications for drought permits early to optimise water storage, according to the national drought group. While recent rainfall has alleviated some pressure on the agricultural sector, the group expressed concerns about feed availability for livestock heading into winter due to poor grass growth during spring and summer. Navigation on the Canal & River Trust network is gradually improving, with key lock flights on the Oxford and Grand Union Canal now open, it added. Will Lang, Met Office chief meteorologist, commented: "This year has been characterised by notable rainfall deficits across much of England. "While recent rainfall has helped, regional variations remain, and drought conditions continue to affect several areas. "Looking ahead, there is an increased risk of dry spells through late autumn and early winter and regional differences in rainfall continue to be likely. "Without sustained and widespread precipitation, a consistent recovery from drought remains uncertain." The ongoing drought heading into winter could lead to flooding, including flash floods, as parched soils struggle to absorb heavy downpours and stormy weather. Environment Minister Emma Hardy stated: "We are closely monitoring all regions, especially those still experiencing drought, and working with the national drought group and water companies to maintain supplies. "We face increasing pressure on our water resources. That is why this Government is taking decisive action, including the development of nine new reservoirs to help secure long-term water resilience."
