WATER stock at reservoirs across Cumbria and the North West has fallen during the latest UK heatwave, Carlisle alone seeing a 4.6 per cent decrease.
United Utilities takes readings from the water sources each week, publishing the findings the following Wednesday.
Readings published on Wednesday July 15, showing water stock levels as of Sunday July 12, reveal that the firm's regional total water stock has dropped by 3.4 per cent.
Reductions in water stock were recorded at sources in Carlisle, the Pennines, North Wales and the Lake District.
Haweswater and Thirlmere Reservoir's water stock had fallen by 3.9 per cent on the week of July 12, compared to the previous week.
Although Haweswater and Thirlmere have recorded reductions in recent weeks, at 71.7 per cent, water stock at the reservoirs remains considerably higher than the 58.9 per cent recorded this time last year.
Carlisle's water stock stands at 75.9 per cent, while this is a reduction of 4.6 per cent on the last recording, it is significantly lower than the 97.7 per cent recorded last year and the 84.1 per cent recorded in the average year.
It is the only one of United Utilities' water sources across the North West that is lower than last year's reading.
From June to August 2025, England saw its hottest summer on record, following the driest spring in more than 100 years.
With an average temperature of 17.42 degrees Celsius, after an exceptionally dry Spring, the conditions led the Environment Agency (EA) to formally declare drought conditions.
Haweswater and Thirlmere shrunk, physically showing the impact of low rainfall.
As well as parts of Cumbria, Thirlmere supplies water to Manchester and has done for over 120 years using the Thirlmere Aqueduct.
During the 2025 drought, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs required companies like United Utilities to produce drought plans, which they were held to account on by DEFRA and the EA.
Drought plans, drawn-up by water companies, included measures to stop leaks and reduce demand.
Water companies can also apply for drought permits, which if approved, would allow them to abstract water from the environment during exceptionally dry conditions.
Abstracted water is then used to bolster the regional water stock.
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