Drought Continues to Affect East Anglia

Drought Continues to Affect East Anglia

Posted on Sep 22, 2026 by jsw  | Tags: Drought, Environment Agency

Message from the Environment Agency

Situation

East Anglia received an average of 39mm of rainfall during August, which is approximately 66% of the long-term average typically expected for this time of year. While this rainfall has provided some short-term improvement to river flows, the dry soil conditions and declining groundwater levels mean that our catchments continue to be affected by drought.

The Met Office is forecasting further showers and warmer temperatures throughout September, followed by a period of more sustained rainfall during October and into early winter. This is expected to help replenish soil moisture and mark the beginning of the winter recharge season, allowing groundwater levels to gradually recover over the coming months. 

Improvements in conditions have enabled a number of licence holders to return to more typical abstraction levels. However, Section 57 restrictions remain in place for surface water spray irrigators within eastern catchments. 

The following catchments are experiencing ‘Drought’:

Upper Bedford Ouse   Old Bedford & Middle Level    Cam & Ely Ouse         North-West Norfolk

North Norfolk              Broadland Rivers                    East Suffolk                Essex

What we are doing 

Our teams continue to closely monitor local water levels and environmental conditions across the area. Analysis of ecological samples is providing increasing evidence of the impacts of drought, and teams are responding to reports of environmental incidents, including pollution events and concerns regarding fish welfare.

We work closely with Internal Drainage Boards, water abstractor groups, farmers and water companies to manage water availability. More abstractors can recommence taking water, but some temporary abstraction licence conditions remain in place. Section 57 restrictions for surface water spray irrigators continue to apply to eastern catchments.

These temporary restrictions are reviewed regularly, and abstraction will be allowed to resume as soon as conditions improve, and it is appropriate to do so. 

Working with water companies 

We are working closely with the water companies operating across East Anglia to share information on water availability, both now and looking forwards into the winter recharge season which will be very important for refilling reservoirs.

Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, and Essex & Suffolk Water Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) remain in place to manage customer demand. Further information, including guidance on water conservation and details of individual Drought Plans, is available on their respective websites.

How you can help 

We can all play a part in using water wisely and helping to protect this precious resource. Practical water‑saving tips for households and businesses are available from Waterwise.

We also encourage the public to report any sightings of fish in distress or other environmental impacts by calling our 24‑hour Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

More information can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency