The Government has published a formal direction requiring the Environment Agency to prioritise protecting public drinking water supplies in parts of England affected by severe drought.
The direction, made by Water Minister Emma Hardy on 15 October 2026 under section 40 of the Environment Act 1995, came into force that day. Its full text was published on 19 October.
Which areas are covered?
The direction applies to water resource zones around Wimbleball, Ardingly, Roadford and Colliford reservoirs. The wider severe drought declaration covers parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.
What has the Environment Agency been instructed to do?
The agency must give priority to protecting public water supplies when exercising relevant functions in the specified areas. Where necessary, it may use local enforcement positions concerning temporary reductions in environmental water releases and changes to abstraction constraints, helping preserve reservoir storage and reduce the risk of interrupted supplies.
Decisions must be necessary, proportionate, evidence-based and accompanied by monitoring, mitigation and restoration measures. The direction does not remove the agency's statutory environmental duties or authorise unlawful outcomes.
Does this mean household water cuts?
No. The direction is a preventative measure intended to reduce the likelihood of rota cuts or supply interruptions. It is not an announcement that household supplies will be switched off, nor confirmation that every possible temporary measure has been used.
When will the measures end?
The direction will be reviewed monthly and will expire once severe drought status has been lifted from all the specified areas. The Environment Agency must work with Defra, affected water companies and local resilience forums, and provide information on measures and environmental impacts when requested.
The Government announced the severe drought classification on 15 October. Today's publication supplies the detailed legal wording behind the ministerial instruction, rather than introducing a separate new drought declaration.