Yorkshire Drought

[Volvoclaret]

In typical Yorkshire fashion, Craven Council has announced that in order to save water, Skipton swimming pool will be closing lanes 3 and 5.

[Claretincraven]

Very amusing, although Craven District Council hasn’t existed for over 2 years. North Yorkshire Council now!

[claret wizard]

In order to save money Craven Council did away with themselves.

[Inchy]

I moved just before Xmas from Leeds to near wetherby. In feb there was a leak on the road. Within less than half a day Yorkshire water was there, closed the road, dug up half the road, left the leak. A day later the leak evolved into the Bellagio fountains, spraying 30 feet in the air right into my neighbours garden and roof causes a fair bit of damage. 3 days later they fixed it.

God knows how much water was wasted.

The privatisation and general scumbagness of said companies should be as big of a scandal as the post office scandal.

This crap effects all of us

[Spijed]

I moved just before Xmas from Leeds to near wetherby. In feb there was a leak on the road. Within less than half a day Yorkshire water was there, closed the road, dug up half the road, left the leak. A day later the leak evolved into the Bellagio fountains, spraying 30 feet in the air right into my neighbours garden and roof causes a fair bit of damage. 3 days later they fixed it.

God knows how much water was wasted.

The privatisation and general scumbagness of said companies should be as big of a scandal as the post office scandal.

This crap effects all of us

Thames water is the worst. Paid millions in bonuses to the directors and millions in dividends to shareholders yet hardly spent a penny in repairing old pipes. Corruption on a grand scale

[Nonayforever]

I moved just before Xmas from Leeds to near wetherby. In feb there was a leak on the road. Within less than half a day Yorkshire water was there, closed the road, dug up half the road, left the leak. A day later the leak evolved into the Bellagio fountains, spraying 30 feet in the air right into my neighbours garden and roof causes a fair bit of damage. 3 days later they fixed it.

God knows how much water was wasted.

The thing is , water doesn't cost anything. It's rain. It's free.
The cost is the admin & work involved.

[bobinho]

Massive rise in the population, no new fresh water reservoirs in god knows how long…. Don’t need to be Stephen hawking to work out what’s not quite right there… added to the lack of funding for repairs/modernisation, yet shareholders getting richer, = an absolute CLUSTER.

[Goliath]

Genuine question because I have no knowledge of how the industry works. Why are Londons reservoirs at around 90% capacity where as the Penine ones are around 40%.

[exilecanada]

Privatisation of any essential services, water, health, infrastructure etc etc is NEVER a good thing. Open itself up for cost cutting, short cuts, inferior materials etc in the search for the almighty profit and bonuses for those who instigate said elements.

[taio]

Genuine question because I have no knowledge of how the industry works. Why are Londons reservoirs at around 90% capacity where as the Penine ones are around 40%.

Less natural supply and fewer backup options

[Taffy on the wing]

Privatisation of any essential services, water, health, infrastructure etc etc is NEVER a good thing. Open itself up for cost cutting, short cuts, inferior materials etc in the search for the almighty profit and bonuses for those who instigate said elements.

Dead on!

[TheFamilyCat]

Genuine question because I have no knowledge of how the industry works. Why are Londons reservoirs at around 90% capacity where as the Penine ones are around 40%.

It's downhill to London.

[Cubanforever]

Privatisation of any essential services, water, health, infrastructure etc etc is NEVER a good thing. Open itself up for cost cutting, short cuts, inferior materials etc in the search for the almighty profit and bonuses for those who instigate said elements.

And massive payments to directors, often ex MPs, this one has dried up now as there is too much media attention, wonder where they will end up next for the massive easy paycheck

[bfcmik]

The thing is , water doesn't cost anything. It's rain. It's free.
The cost is the admin & work involved.

You are not allowed to drink rainwater nowadays, too many particulates.

[nighty]

typical uk....im over at my place in tenerife were they have had rain on 4 days so far this year but no bans on water useage , they invest heavily on infrastructure and also on de salinating salt water , we are completely taken the micky out of in the uk , and my water bills over here are a fraction of my uk ones

[ClaretLoup]

The drought is more prevalent in areas that rely heavily on reservoirs as opposed to acqifers hence the situation in Yorkshire.

[Claret Till I Die]

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[aggi]

Genuine question because I have no knowledge of how the industry works. Why are Londons reservoirs at around 90% capacity where as the Penine ones are around 40%.

North vs. South: The Tale of Two Water Supplies Explains Reservoir Disparity
London's reservoirs are currently holding strong at around 90% capacity, while reservoirs in the Pennines have plummeted to alarming lows of approximately 40-45%, because the two regions rely on fundamentally different water source systems and have been dealt very different hands by recent weather patterns.

While it may seem counterintuitive, with northern England often perceived as wetter than the south, a prolonged dry spell throughout the spring and early summer of 2025 has had a drastically different impact on the water supplies of London compared to those in the Pennine regions of Yorkshire and the North West.

The core reasons for this stark contrast can be broken down into two key factors:

1. Different Primary Water Sources:

London and the South East: The capital's water supply is a diverse system that relies heavily on abstraction from rivers, primarily the Thames and the Lea, and vast underground water reserves held in aquifers (natural underground layers of water-bearing rock). Reservoirs in this region, such as the Queen Mary and King George V, act more as large storage buffers for this abstracted water. Following a wet autumn and winter in 2024-2025, the groundwater levels in the South East were high, ensuring that even with lower rainfall, river flows have been more resilient, allowing for continued replenishment of the reservoirs.

The Pennines: The water supply for large parts of Yorkshire and the North West is heavily dependent on surface-level reservoirs. These reservoirs collect rainwater directly from the surrounding moorland and hills of the Pennines. This system is therefore highly vulnerable to extended periods of low rainfall, as there is no significant alternative source like groundwater to fall back on.

2. Divergent Rainfall Patterns:
The UK has experienced a significant north-south split in rainfall over the past year. Government and water company data from June and July 2025 confirms:

A Parched North: The North West and North East of England have endured one of their driest springs and starts to the year on record. For several consecutive months, rainfall has been significantly below the long-term average. This lack of rain has meant the reservoirs that supply the region have not been replenished, leading to a rapid decline in water levels.

A Buffered South: While the South East has also experienced a dry spring with below-average rainfall, the impact was softened by the preceding wet winter. The earlier rainfall had already recharged the crucial groundwater aquifers, which have since kept rivers flowing and provided a steady source for the region's water supply.

The situation has become so severe in some northern areas and the Midlands that official drought status has been declared, prompting water companies like Yorkshire Water and United Utilities to introduce hosepipe bans and appeal to customers to conserve water. Meanwhile, despite London's reservoirs being in a healthier state, Thames Water is also urging caution, citing the below-average river flows and higher-than-normal demand during recent heatwaves.

In essence, the tale of the two reservoir levels is a clear illustration of how regional differences in geography and water infrastructure can lead to vastly different outcomes in the face of national weather trends. The Pennines are suffering from a direct and immediate rainfall deficit, whereas London's more complex and varied system has so far provided a crucial buffer against the drought conditions affecting other parts of the country.