Much Of England Is In Drought: How Will This Affect Businesses?

The UK’s reputation for rain is looking increasingly outdated. After months of exceptionally dry weather and unusually high temperatures, the government has declared drought across seven of England’s 14 water resource regions. 

The announcement follows a particularly severe period of low rainfall, with July 2026 expected to be the driest July on record.

The declaration is a significant development, but for businesses it should also prompt a more practical question: How well prepared is your organisation for water scarcity?

Drought is not simply a problem for farmers, reservoirs and households. Businesses across England depend on reliable water supplies, and restrictions, changing demand and pressure on infrastructure can all have commercial consequences.

For companies that have historically treated water as a background utility, this is a good time to take a closer look at how water is being used, managed and purchased.

Drought doesn’t just mean a hosepipe ban

When drought is mentioned, many people immediately think about hosepipe bans. These restrictions are certainly part of the response. 

Several water companies have already introduced temporary use bans, while others have escalated their drought measures or are considering additional interventions. But the implications of drought extend much further.

Water companies have to manage falling reservoir and groundwater levels while maintaining supplies to customers. Businesses may face increased pressure to reduce non-essential consumption, particularly where they use significant amounts of water.

For some sectors, this can become an operational issue rather than simply an environmental one. Food production, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, leisure and many other industries can all have processes that depend heavily on water.

Now is the time to understand your water consumption

One of the simplest things a business can do during a period of water stress is establish exactly how much water it is using. That sounds obvious, but many organisations don’t routinely monitor their consumption in detail.

A water bill might show total usage for a billing period, but that doesn’t necessarily tell you:

• Which parts of the business use the most water
• Whether consumption is increasing or decreasing
• Whether an unusual spike indicates a leak
• How much water is being used outside normal operating hours
• Whether different sites have significantly different consumption patterns

The more detailed the information available, the easier it becomes to identify opportunities to reduce demand.

Water efficiency is becoming a business resilience issue

Reducing water consumption has traditionally been associated with sustainability. That’s still important, but the current drought demonstrates that efficiency is also about business resilience.

If water resources remain under pressure, organisations that have already reduced unnecessary consumption will be in a stronger position than those attempting to make rapid changes when restrictions become more severe.

This is particularly relevant for businesses that cannot easily reduce their water requirements without affecting operations. Understanding your minimum essential water demand can be a valuable part of contingency planning.

Your water bill deserves a closer look too

Drought is also a useful reminder that water management involves more than physical consumption. Businesses should understand exactly what they are being charged for.

Commercial water bills can include different elements relating to clean water, wastewater and drainage, depending on the circumstances of the business.

Changes to premises, operations or occupancy can mean that historical arrangements no longer represent the best fit. Regularly checking bills can help identify errors, unexpected changes and potential opportunities to reduce costs.

And this leads to another important question: when was the last time your business compared its commercial water supplier?

Businesses in England have a choice of water suppliers

Eligible businesses in England can choose their retail water supplier. This is an important distinction because changing retailer does not mean changing the physical water supply.

The pipes, treatment works and wider infrastructure remain the same. What changes is the company managing your commercial water account.

That gives businesses an opportunity to look for a water provider that offers the combination of price, service and support that suits their organisation. In the current environment, that choice is worth exercising.

What should businesses look for in a water supplier?

Price is naturally going to be part of the equation, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration. A business looking to switch water suppliers might also look at the quality of account management and the tools available to monitor consumption.

Useful services can include:

• Clear billing: Easy-to-understand invoices make it simpler to identify unusual charges and manage budgets.
• Consumption information: Access to useful usage data can help identify waste and establish realistic reduction targets.
• Customer support: When something goes wrong, being able to reach someone who understands your account matters.
• Multi-site management: Businesses with several premises may benefit from consolidated billing and easier oversight.
• Water efficiency advice: A good retailer can potentially help identify practical ways to reduce consumption.

What can businesses do now to manage water consumption?

There is no need to wait for conditions to become even more serious before taking action.

A sensible commercial water review could start with five questions:

1. How much water are we using?

Establish current consumption and look for trends.

2. Where are we using it?

Identify the processes, buildings or sites responsible for the greatest demand.

3. Are we wasting any?

Investigate leaks, inefficient equipment and unnecessary usage.

4. Are our bills accurate?

Check meter readings, charges and account information.

5. Are we with the right water provider?

Compare the commercial water market and assess whether another supplier could offer better value or support.

None of these steps requires a business to radically change its operations overnight. They are simply sensible ways of gaining greater control over an increasingly important resource.

Preparing for a drier future

The government describes the current situation as a response to record low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures. The Environment Agency has warned that rivers are running low, agricultural production is being affected and wildfire risk is increasing.

And the wider picture matters. Recent drought conditions are occurring against a backdrop of climate change, population growth and increasing demand for water.

For commercial organisations, now is a sensible time to understand consumption, address avoidable waste and review whether their current water arrangements are delivering the right combination of value and service.