Water, drought and flood news UK
Stay updated with, and share the latest UK news from, about and of interest to community agency networks (CANs) and community groups with a focus or interest in water activism, flood, drought and water supply issues.
2026
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Record-breaking heat and dry spring leave parts of England without water, reuters.com (May 29, 2026) - Quarter of England at risk of water shortages (Mar 28, 2026) — less water in the system than planners are currently preparing for will have a knock-on effect on new housing developments
- One in nine new homes in England built between 2022 and 2024 were constructed in areas that could now be at risk of flooding, according to new data., theguardian.com (Feb 18, 2026) — between 2013 and 2022, one in 13 new homes were in potential flooding zones.
- 'Serious climate breakdown' warning over filthy rivers and flooding, BBC News (Feb 15, 2026)
- East London is at high risk of extreme flooding – here’s how to limit the damage, theconversation.com (Feb 11, 2026)
- ‘To live a normal life again, it’s a dream come true’: UK’s first climate evacuees can cast off their homes and trauma, theguardian.com (Feb 09, 2026)
- The Guardian view on heavy rain: England’s flood defences are not strong enough, Editorial, theguardian.com (Feb 09, 2026) — The disruption and distress caused by record downpours must focus minds on the need for climate preparedness
- The plan to clean up England and Wales’ water industry ignores the sector’s biggest problem, theconversation.com (Jan 28, 2026)
- What happens when the taps run dry? England is about to find out, Aditya Chakrabortty, theguardian.com (Jan 22, 2026)
- ‘Fear of the next deluge’: flood-scarred Britons join forces to demand help, theguardian.com (Jan 12, 2026)
2025
[edit | edit source]- Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown, theguardian.com (Nov 29, 2025) — Exclusive: UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with ‘far-reaching’ implications
- England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year, theguardian.com (Nov 08, 2025) — Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decades. Comment: It surely then doesn't make sense to plan for and enable such a high proportion of new build in the most water stressed parts of England such as the South East?
- Stand-alone Welsh water regulator to replace Ofwat, BBC News (Oct 21, 2025)
- Towns may have to be abandoned due to floods with millions more homes in Great Britain at risk, theguardian.com (Oct 14, 2025) — Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable, Guardian investigation finds
- The flood-prone Worcestershire town being abandoned by insurers, theguardian.com (Oct 14, 2025) — Millions more homes in Great Britain at risk of flooding, investigation finds
- From clean air to pesticides: how UK has lagged behind EU on the environment, theguardian.com (Aug 19, 2025) — Labour has continued to diverge from bloc’s laws, meaning most of UK’s protections are weaker than pre-Brexit
- South East hosepipe ban comes into force, BBC News (Jul 18, 2025)
- England’s water supply could run out in 20 years, MPs warn, independent.co.uk (Jul 10, 2025) — The report draws upon work by the National Audit Office (NAO), which warns parts of the south and southeast of England are at the highest risk of running dry in the next 20 years in its water supply and demand management report in June
- Yorkshire enters drought after driest spring in 132 years, theguardian.com (Jun 12, 2025)
- England’s water crisis needs more than just new reservoirs – here’s what will help, theconversation.com (Jun 02, 2025)
- Drought declared in north-west England amid declining reservoir levels, theguardian.com (May 29, 2025)
- Pleas to 'use water wisely', BBC News (May 18, 2025)
- Exceptionally low river flows forecast across UK as drought threat grows, theguardian.com (May 14, 2025)
- The 10 areas across east and south-east England where housing targets will be 'undeliverable' due to a shortage of water reserves, inews.co.uk (Mar 08, 2025) — Water scarcity issues are less acute further north, in areas such as Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria and Lancashire – as well as in Wales and Scotland
- The UK is surprisingly short of water – but more reservoirs aren’t the answer, theconversation.com (Jan 13, 2025)
Community flood action
[edit | edit source]- What is a flood action group? information from nationalfloodforum.org.uk
- Flooded People UK, "Flooded people helping each other to protect their homes and communities." added 15:09, 13 January 2026 (UTC)
Flooding in England
[edit | edit source]Flooding is one of the most pressing emergencies facing the UK today. More than 6m properties in England alone are already at risk from rivers, the sea, sewage or surface water...theguardian.com, Jan 12, 2026.
Surface water flooding
[edit | edit source]About 4.6m homes and businesses in towns and suburbs across England are threatened by surface-water flooding, caused by heavy rain and overwhelmed drains. That makes surface water the largest single contributor to flood risk, surpassing traditional river and coastal flooding. Heather Shepherd, co-founder Flooded People UK. ...theguardian.com, Jan 12, 2026.
Development one of the causes of flooding
[edit | edit source]What needs to be recognised is that flooding is a nationwide problem. “Because it’s hard to do anything about climate change in the short term, we need to address the other three causes – development, lack of defences and poor maintenance – as a matter of urgency.” William Wareing, chair of the Witney flood group in West Oxfordshire. ...theguardian.com, Jan 12, 2026.
Urgent need for change and stronger planning reforms
[edit | edit source]“The urgency could not be greater. Without stronger planning reforms, investment in infrastructure and a meaningful national strategy to deal with sewage and drainage failures, more families risk being left living in constant fear of the next deluge – and paying with their homes, their health and their peace of mind.” Heather Shepherd, co-founder Flooded People UK. ...theguardian.com, Jan 12, 2026.
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| Cite as | Philralph (2025–2026). "Water, drought and flood news UK". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |