Lower rainfall means hosepipe ban to stay in place Image source, Getty Images Published 1 hour ago The Thames Water area saw just over a third of the rainfall between March and September recorded in the same period two years ago, the company has said. The Environment Agency declared a drought across London and the Thames Valley 100 days ago on 29 July. Thames Water said while recent rain had "helped some rivers and reservoirs recover… months of sustained rainfall are needed to rebuild supplies" so a hosepipe ban would remain in place.
On Tuesday, Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford was at 76% capacity and reservoir storage across London stood at 56%. Thames Water said between March and September, 194mm of rainfall was recorded, just under 50% of the long-term average (LTA). Over the same time in 2024, 570mm was recorded, which was 145.6% of the LTA. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The water supply was much healthier when this wing surfer took to Farmoor Reservoir in November 2023 Julie Morton, Thames Water's head of water resources, said: "It's 100 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. "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. "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."
More news from Berkshire Watch the latest episode of South Today Listen to the latest news from Berkshire Get in touch Your Voice Contact form Contact form Related topics Berkshire Thames Water London Drought More on this story Hosepipe ban to continue throughout autumn Published 17 October Thames Water says hosepipe ban could last months yet Published 24 September Thames Water grateful as use falls after hosepipe ban Published 19 August Thames Water issues hosepipe ban for 10m customers Published 23 July Related internet links Thames Water
BBC News reports that Thames Water is keeping its hosepipe ban because the drought has not eased, and it attributes the rainfall figures and the decision to the company. The article describes a declared drought, record-breaking dry weather and five heatwaves, but never once tells the reader that warming makes droughts and heat like this more likely, so the summer reads as bad luck with the weather.
Leaves out the climate link
Serious
“The Environment Agency declared a drought across London and the Thames Valley 100 days ago on 29 July.”
Why this matters
In its own voice the BBC reports a formally declared drought across London and the Thames Valley, and nowhere does it say that warming makes droughts like this more frequent or more severe.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the drought as a chance spell of dry weather with no wider cause behind it.
The context
Human-caused warming has made agricultural and ecological drought more frequent or more severe. The article contains no word on climate change or warming anywhere.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “climate” and “warming”.
“Record-breaking dry weather and five heatwaves have put significant strain on water resources in our region.”
Why this matters
The BBC carries Thames Water's description of record-breaking dry weather and five heatwaves in one summer, and lets it stand as the whole explanation with no line from the outlet on why such extremes are piling up.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away thinking a record dry summer with five heatwaves is just an unusually tough year that will pass, with nothing systematic driving it.
The context
Warming has made hot extremes and drought more frequent and more severe. The article's own account of "one of our most challenging summers in recent memory" is the kind of event the record links to warming, yet the article never says so.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Elsewhere in the article“we have faced one of our most challenging summers in recent memory”