Water levels have fallen at Wimbleball reservoir on Exmoor

A severe drought has been declared across parts of southern England after months of low rainfall.

Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex are affected.

The announcement by the Environment Agency follows a meeting of the National Drought Group, which reviewed water resources and drought conditions across England.

Supplies have been significantly impacted by high demand following the hottest summer on record.

The map shows the areas affected by the severe drought

The government said customer water supplies would be uninterrupted.

Declaring a severe drought "ensures proactive steps are taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs".

The government's plans include:

Ministers instructing water companies to conduct daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels and tougher water quality monitoring

The Environment Agency to increase compliance checks on businesses that withdraw water from natural sources to ensure they are only taking permitted quantities of water

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The government said the change to severe drought status had been prompted by specific concerns for two major reservoirs, Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset.

The latest figures, external for Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor show it is at 14.9% capacity, while Ardingly is 19.4% full, external. Other major reservoirs are also low, including Roadford in Devon at 36.8%, Burrator at 33.6%, Colliford in Cornwall at 35% and Stithians at 21.9%.

The Environment Agency has classed Colliford and Wimbleball as having exceptionally low levels, external

Wimbleball serves about 300,000 properties across east Devon, north Devon, Somerset, west Dorset and West Somerset. Ardingly Reservoir serves 280,000 customers across East and West Sussex.

Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said: "Record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have put our water resources under immense pressure.

"Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use. We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now.

"We expect them to follow their drought plans and take the steps needed to secure public water supplies.

"We are also asking everyone to use less water. That will leave more in our rivers and the environment, helping farmers and protecting wildlife and nature."

The government said the South East and South West had experienced their driest April to September in more than a century, impacting reservoir levels in that area.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: "This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning.

"We are working closely with water companies to protect public supplies in the areas affected, and I'd continue to urge everyone to think about how they can use water wisely over the coming weeks."

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