The Environment Agency Declares Drought Status For The East and West Midlands

BAMFORD, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 16: In an aerial view, low water levels reveal the reservoir bed of Howden Reservoir on July 16, 2025 in Bamford, United Kingdom. The Howden Reservoir is owned and operated by Severn Trent Water, which supplies water to the two regions of East and West Midlands, joining the North West of England and Yorkshire in drought status. The water from the reservoir is treated and then transported 28 miles (45 km) via the Derwent Valley Aqueduct to a reservoir at Ambergate, where it is distributed to major cities like Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester. Following the driest start to a year since 1976, water experts and the Met Office have judged that reservoir and river levels in the Midlands are well below normal, with no substantial rain forecast. (Footage by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)