What are the stages of drought and what do they mean?

When thinking about drought, most people would imagine cracked earth and empty reservoirs, and as the UK doesn’t often reflect this image, it raises one common question: is there a drought in the UK? Drought is more than just a lack of rain and hot summers - it’s a gradual process with distinct stages, each which carries its own risks and impacts.

The Environment Agency monitors various indicators (such as rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir storage, ecology, public water supplies) and will decide the level of drought an area is in. There are four stages to describe and manage drought response: prolonged dry weather, drought, severe drought and recovery. Understanding these stages helps us prepare, respond and adapt, especially as extreme weather is now more frequent due to climate change.

In this article, we’ll explore these four stages of drought, what triggers them and why businesses should have a good understanding of the stages of drought.

Understanding the four stages of drought

Understanding drought as a process helps us see the warning signs early and respond more effectively.

1. Prolonged dry weather

During this stage, rainfall is below average, river flows start to dip and soil moisture decreases. It’s not officially a drought yet, but water stress begins to build, especially in agriculture and ecosystems.

Early action during this first stage can prevent more serious impacts later. Monitoring efforts are in place at this stage, with water companies encouraging more water efficiency and conservation.

2. Drought

Water levels in rivers and reservoirs fall significantly. The effects also become more visible, crops may start failing and wildlife habitats start to shrink. This is when drought is officially declared and coordination between government, businesses and communities becomes critical to conserve as much water as possible.

3. Severe Drought

Severe drought is the most disruptive of the four stages. In this stage, environmental damage intensifies and economic sectors, like farming and tourism, can suffer major losses. During severe droughts, the resilience of infrastructure and emergency planning is tested.

4. Recovery

In stage four, rainfall returns but recovery isn’t instant and while it’s natural to focus on visible signs of recovery like greener gardens, recovery is much more than that. Groundwater and reservoirs take time to refill, and ecosystems may need months or even years to return to their previous state. Recovery gives us a chance to reflect, rebuild and improve future drought preparedness.

Why it’s important for businesses to understand the stages of drought

Water is a shared resource and protecting our water future starts with awareness. Drought unfolds in stages and understanding how drought develops and what we can do at each stage gives us the opportunity to act early and build resilience. Whether you’re managing resources at work or making choices at home, your actions matter in helping to conserve water.

By understanding how drought develops, from early warning signs to severe water shortages, businesses can create and implement strategies to reduce water use, protect supply chains and support community resilience. Having this knowledge empowers decision makers to act early, whether this means investing water-efficient technologies or engaging employees in conservation efforts.

What you can do to help tackle droughts

When it comes to your water usage, making small changes can make a big difference. Our Water Efficiency Tools offer great ways to save water and money.

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