Britain faces a prolonged recovery period to overcome the effects of the recent hot and dry summer, officials have said. Despite some recent rainfall, roughly 75% of the country remains under drought conditions, with no change following the latest meeting of the National Drought Group on Tuesday.

Water companies across England continue to implement restrictions affecting around 30 million customers. The National Drought Group has urged these firms to provide detailed updates on ongoing leak repairs and their ability to maintain water supplies through the coming autumn and winter months.

Current reservoir levels remain approximately 20% below the expected norm for this time of year, while groundwater supplies continue to decline. These conditions highlight the sustained pressure on water resources caused by the extended dry spell, emphasizing the need for significant rainfall over several months to restore normal levels.