Government officials have issued a public appeal for water conservation following the official declaration of severe drought conditions across several regions in southern England. The announcement comes in response to an extended period of dry weather that has left major reservoirs severely depleted.

Water and Flooding Minister Emma Hardy addressed Parliament to emphasize the urgency of the situation. She warned lawmakers that the current dry spell represents a crisis not seen in decades and cautioned that such extreme weather patterns risk becoming routine if proactive measures are not taken.

The Environment Agency confirmed the severe drought status, which impacts multiple counties including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex. While authorities have assured the public that household taps will continue to flow without interruption, the designation allows for early interventions to protect dwindling supplies before shortages translate into actual service disruptions.

Explaining the decision in the House of Commons, Hardy pointed to historically low precipitation levels combined with shrinking water reserves. According to government data, England has experienced its lowest cumulative rainfall figures in more than a hundred years.

Reservoir levels across the affected regions reflect the severity of the deficit. The Wimbleball Reservoir located on Exmoor has dropped to just 14.9 percent of its total capacity, while the Ardingly facility stands at 19.4 percent. Other critical water storage sites are similarly strained, with Roadford in Devon operating at 36.8 percent, Burrator at 33.6 percent, and Colliford in Cornwall at 35 percent. Additionally, the Stithians facility is currently holding only 21.9 percent of its maximum volume.

Citizens living in the impacted areas are being encouraged to evaluate their daily habits and adopt water-saving measures in the weeks ahead. Officials maintain that mindful consumption and early resource management are vital tools in mitigating the long-term impacts of the prolonged dry conditions.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.