Yorkshire’s reservoir and groundwater levels continue to improve after recent rainfall, although recovery varies significantly across the region, according to Yorkshire Water.
Overall reservoir storage increased to 65.3% on 10 November, up from 60.6% the previous week. However, rainfall distribution has been uneven, leading to faster improvement in some catchments than others. Reservoirs in the Washburn Valley, Nidderdale, Calderdale and Kirklees have seen the strongest recovery, while those around Sheffield remain considerably lower.
Reservoir levels by area
- Washburn Valley: 60%
- Nidderdale: 73%
- Calderdale and Kirklees: 74%
- Sheffield region: 51%
The figures reflect conditions up to 10 November, meaning the heavy rain on 11–12 November had not yet contributed to reservoir or groundwater storage at the time of reporting.
Groundwater levels in the Hull aquifer remain below average for this point in the year, at 38.2%. Groundwater typically responds more slowly to rainfall and is expected to improve with continued wet weather in the east of the region.
Regional resource management
Dave Kaye, Director of Water Services at Yorkshire Water, said: “The regular rainfall we’ve had in the region over recent weeks is making a big difference to water levels in reservoirs, rivers and underground. We’ve seen steady recovery of reservoir levels in recent weeks, but this recovery has been uneven across the region, with reservoirs around Sheffield not seeing the same level of recharge as those in north and west Yorkshire.
“Total levels remain well below average for this time of year, and we expect this to be the case for some months to come given the extent of the dry, hot weather in the first half of the year.
“Until we have sufficient recovery across all reservoirs, the hosepipe restrictions will remain in place. Of course, the rainfall means there is little need for hosepipes to water gardens, but we’d encourage customers to continue saving water where they can. The response of our customers has been fantastic, and we are grateful to everyone who has taken steps to use water wisely.
“We continue to manage resources throughout the region, moving water around to maximise recovery. We’re using drought permits and orders to reduce compensation flows and increase abstraction from rivers where appropriate. This work, alongside investment in leakage reduction, new water mains and new borehole supplies, aims to put us in a strong position for spring and summer 2026 and beyond.”
