Thames Water issues update - 100 days after declaring drought
The supplier says cooler weather does not mean the drought is over
Drought in London and the Thames Valley has reached 100 days, according to Thames Water, with a Temporary Use Ban still in place for all of its customers.
The Environment Agency declared drought in the region on 29th July.
Thames Water said cooler weather does not mean the drought is over.
The company said restrictions will only lift when substantial rainfall replenishes supplies and conditions allow.
Rainfall and reservoir levels
Between 1st March and 30th September 2026, Thames Water's region received just 34% of the rainfall recorded over the same period in 2024.
From 1st August to 31st October 2026, the region received 80.8% of its long-term average rainfall.
That compares with 156.8% over the same period in 2024, which was a non-drought year.
Thames Water said recent rain has helped some rivers and reservoirs recover, but months of sustained rainfall are still needed to rebuild supplies.
On 3rd November, Farmoor Reservoir was at 76% capacity, compared with an average of 90% for this time of year.
Total London reservoir storage stood at 56%, compared with an average of 77%.
Thames Water said river flows are below normal.
It said many groundwater sites remain below normal across the catchment, with London's groundwater ranging from below normal to exceptionally low.
What Thames Water is doing
Thames Water said it is fixing more than 1,000 leaks every week, around 20 per cent more than normal.
The company said it has increased the number of people out finding and repairing leaks by 18 per cent compared with last year.
It continues to urge customers to use water wisely as the country heads into the colder months.
Tips on how to save money on energy and water bills are available on the Thames Water website: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/news/2026/oct/thames-water-asks-customers-to-keep-saving-water-this-autumn-as-drought-pressures-continue
What Thames Water said
Julie Morton, Head of Water Resources at Thames Water, said: "It's one hundred days since the Environment Agency declared drought and we have faced one of our most challenging summers in recent memory. Record-breaking dry weather and five heatwaves have put significant strain on water resources in our region."
She said: "The recent rain has been welcome, however, recovery from a drought that developed over many months will take time, particularly when the ground is so dry."
Ms Morton also said: "The forecast looks relatively dry for the first half of November, and we need sustained rainfall through the autumn and winter to replenish water resources ahead of next spring and summer. We're grateful to our customers for continuing to use water carefully while our teams work to protect supplies and the environment."