Severe drought has been declared in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex, the Government has confirmed.
It comes after a record-breaking summer of consistently extreme temperatures, which buckled reservoirs and water infrastructure as demand outmatched supply.
Rainfall was scarce over the summer, with light spells of rain over October failing to recoup the losses built up over five respective heatwave periods between May and September.
Last week, drought conditions were declared in Yorkshire due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers.
The Environment Agency’s decision follows a meeting of the National Drought Group, which assessed water availability and the severity of drought conditions across England.
The latest data shows that Wimbleball Reservoir in Exmoor is just 14.9 per cent full.
Several other major reservoirs across the South West are also running low, with Roadford in Devon at 36.8 per cent capacity, Burrator at 33.6 per cent, Colliford in Cornwall at 35 per cent and Stithians at 21.9 per cent.
The Environment Agency has identified Colliford and Wimbleball reservoirs as having exceptionally low water levels.
Wimbleball reservoir serves some 300,000 properties across east Devon, north Devon, Somerset, west Dorset and West Somerset.
The Government has reassured the public that household water supplies will not be interrupted.
It said declaring a severe drought would allow preventative action to be taken early, helping to protect available water resources, and reduce the risk of future disruption.
Measures outlined by the government include requiring ministers to ensure water companies monitor reservoir and river levels daily, alongside strengthened water quality monitoring.
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Another measure is increasing Environment Agency compliance checks on businesses abstracting water from rivers and other natural sources, to ensure they remain within their authorised limits.
Severe drought typically means a lack of water affects daily life and the environment in major ways, and can have extensive, lasting effects on farming, people, communities, the economy and nature.
Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said: “Record-breaking summer heat and severe drought have put our water resources under immense pressure.
“Recovery depends on both rainfall and how much water we use. We cannot change the weather, but water companies can act now.
“We expect them to follow their drought plans and take the steps needed to secure public water supplies.
“We are also asking everyone to use less water. That will leave more in our rivers and the environment, helping farmers and protecting wildlife and nature.”
The South East and South West had their driest April to September in over a century, the Environment Agency said.
Normal reservoir capacity for this time of year should be about 75 per cent – meaning the current levels are far below optimal.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, said: “This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning.
“We are working closely with water companies to protect public supplies in the areas affected, and I’d continue to urge everyone to think about how they can use water wisely over the coming weeks.
“Our strengthened Water Bill is all about taking back public control of our water companies. We are at the start of a decade-long journey to a very different water system, including nine new major reservoirs to secure supplies.”
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