November delivered 149% of the long‑term average rainfall, nudging England’s drought‑hit regions into recovery, the National Drought Group heard. The same weather brought local flooding, a reminder that extremes now arrive in quick succession. The Environment Agency says the recovery is real but fragile and is asking the public to keep saving water while catchments rebuild.

Signals vary by region. East and West Midlands recorded 218% and 185% of typical November rainfall-the wettest since 1871 and 1970 respectively-moving both from drought to recovery after 21 weeks. Yorkshire, which declared drought in June, is showing strong improvement with a status decision due this week. The North West has returned to normal, the North East is in recovery, and parts of Sussex supplied by South East Water remain in drought. National reservoir storage stands at 79.8% against a seasonal norm of 81.9%, according to Environment Agency data.

Context matters. Spring 2025 was the driest in 132 years and the Met Office recorded four heatwaves, making summer 2025 the hottest since 1884. Eight of the first eleven months ran drier than average. As the Met Office notes, one wet season does not unwind two dry ones; sustained winter recharge is needed for rivers, aquifers and soils.

With that in mind, drought status will be reviewed through winter. The Environment Agency’s latest Drought Prospects assessment indicates typical rainfall to the end of March 2026 is required in some areas to avoid renewed shortages. Water companies are expected to keep assets winter‑ready and, where necessary, submit drought permit applications early to maximise storage while continuing to follow their drought plans.

The science response is scaling. The Environment Agency and The Alan Turing Institute are advancing river‑flow modelling to pinpoint how much water is available and to detect early signs of stress. Combining hydrological models with near‑real‑time demand and leakage data aims to lengthen warning lead times and support sharper decisions on abstraction, storage and environmental protection.

Utilities are adding digital fixes at pace. Thames Water reports more than 40,000 acoustic loggers to spot hidden bursts, a programme to replace 500 km of mains over five years, and roughly 650 repairs each week. Anglian Water says 1.3 million smart meters now cover nearly 60% of customers, helping cut output by over 18 million litres per day-around seven Olympic pools. Wessex Water is averaging more than 300 repairs per week, South West Water has distributed 22,000 free water‑saving devices since April, and Bristol Water has issued 1,750 free water butts.

Leakage remains the fastest ‘new source’ of supply. About 19% of treated water is still lost from networks. The sector’s pledge to halve losses by 2050 is welcome, but winter is the season to make visible progress when ground conditions favour repairs. The National Drought Group agreed to pool research and operational data so innovation moves from pilots to everyday practice.

Households can lock in gains through simple changes. A modern low‑flow shower head uses roughly 6 litres per minute versus 10–15 litres for standard models, saving up to 90 litres on a 10‑minute shower. Cistern displacement devices trim at least a litre per flush. Skipping the pre‑rinse and using a washing‑up bowl can halve kitchen wastage, while shorter showers, turning off taps when brushing, and fixing silent toilet leaks-which can waste 200–400 litres a day-deliver reliable savings. In gardens, a water butt banks winter rain for spring.

Farm businesses are being urged to plan early. The Environment Agency and National Farmers’ Union advise checking abstraction licences now, applying for changes where needed, and investing in on‑farm storage to capture winter rainfall. Water‑sharing arrangements between neighbours can spread risk and protect river flows during dry spells.

Policy measures are moving too. Government plans to introduce mandatory water‑efficiency labelling for white goods will help buyers pick products that save litres every cycle. Proposals to raise water efficiency standards in new buildings are out for consultation until 16 December 2025, signalling a long‑term push to lower per‑capita demand.

Met Office analysis underscores the year’s contrast: autumn rainfall across much of England comfortably exceeded the combined totals of spring and summer. The odds of a dry or wet winter are close to normal overall, but regional swings are likely. What matters for full recovery is steady, season‑long rainfall rather than short, intense bursts.

The direction is hopeful and practical. Rivers and reservoirs have a head start into winter, while new modelling and AI‑enabled leak detection improve how quickly agencies and utilities can act. If typical rain continues and companies accelerate repairs, England can enter 2026 better prepared. This work builds on the Environment Agency’s largest‑ever review of drought science and a whole‑sector commitment to use water wisely.