Wessex Water's surface reservoirs are just a quarter full, new figures show, as Somerset heads further into autumn with hosepipe restrictions still in force. The company's update for the week beginning 12 October puts storage at 25 per cent of capacity, with groundwater levels also below their long-term average.

The figures follow an Environment Agency report showing Wessex Water's reservoirs ended September at about 28 per cent capacity. The agency described that position as "significantly below 1976", underlining how depleted reserves have become after months of dry weather.

For households in Street, Glastonbury, Wells and Shepton Mallet, the latest reports show why water restrictions remain an autumn issue. The Environment Agency's update published on 16 October confirms that hosepipe bans remain in place throughout both Wessex Water's and Bristol Water's supply areas.

Across the wider Wessex region, July to September was the second driest such period on record, receiving just 43 per cent of average rainfall. April to September was the third driest, despite the preceding October-to-March period being the sixth wettest.

September brought little sustained relief. The Environment Agency recorded 38mm of rain across its Wessex area, equivalent to 57 per cent of the monthly average, with a third of that falling on a single day.

By the end of the month, the shortfall in moisture held in the soil had reached a historic maximum for the time of year. Most groundwater monitoring sites were also recording notably or exceptionally low levels.

The pressure extends to the region's rivers. September's average flows on the River Tone at Bishops Hull and the Bristol Frome at Frenchay were the lowest recorded for that month, at 45 per cent and 20 per cent of their respective long-term averages.

Bristol Water's reservoirs ended September at 44 per cent capacity. In the following fortnight, Chew Valley reservoir and Wessex Water's Clatworthy reservoir were among those classified by the Environment Agency as exceptionally low.

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The 25 per cent figure measures water stored in Wessex Water's surface reservoirs. The company also draws on groundwater, so it cannot be read as a countdown to household supplies running out.

Nevertheless, its reservoirs continued to decline in the Environment Agency's latest weekly assessment, which placed Wessex Water at operational drought level three on a four-level scale. The agency said significant further rainfall was needed to restore normal water resource conditions for many suppliers.

There are concerns beyond drinking water supplies, too. The agency warned that continued low river flows could prevent farmers from refilling storage reservoirs over winter, potentially affecting the water available for irrigation in 2027.

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