July 2026 was the driest July on record for England, with rainfall records going back to 1836, and the Environment Agency has now declared drought across seven areas of the country. For commercial and industrial site operators, this isn’t only a story about water supply. It’s also changing the risk around discharge compliance, and it’s worth understanding why before it becomes a problem on your site.
Why low river flows change the risk 
Rivers and watercourses dilute what’s discharged into them. In a normal summer, a small fault in an oil interceptor, a balancing pond or a pump station might go unnoticed for weeks without causing visible harm downstream, simply because there’s enough flow to dilute it. This summer, that margin has largely disappeared.
The Environment Agency’s most recent drought report records 134 confirmed incidents caused by drought and dry weather since the start of 2026, including 19 confirmed algal blooms and 15 confirmed fish deaths, along with 67 confirmed abstraction or low-flow incidents. Reservoir storage for England has fallen to 69%, around 11.6% below the long-term average for the time of year. Put simply, watercourses across much of the country have far less capacity to absorb a discharge fault than they normally would, and a leak that would have gone unnoticed last year is far more likely to cause a visible, reportable problem this year.
What this means for enforcement
The Environment Agency has confirmed it’s strengthening environmental monitoring, increasing surveillance and operational interventions to identify and mitigate drought-related impacts as conditions develop. For site operators, that means a higher chance that a discharge issue gets noticed, investigated and escalated.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, operators have a legal duty to prevent pollution and maintain the integrity of their drainage and discharge systems. That duty doesn’t change with the weather, but the consequences of falling short of it do. A fault that might previously have resulted in a quiet repair could now trigger a formal investigation, particularly on sites near watercourses already flagged as low-flow or notably low.
What an Environment Agency investigation actually looks like
If a discharge incident is reported or noticed, the Environment Agency typically starts with a site visit to establish the source and scale of the problem. Operators are usually asked to provide maintenance and inspection records for the assets involved, which is where a documented, dated service history becomes useful evidence of due diligence rather than a box that was quietly ticked. Where a fault is found to have caused genuine environmental harm, especially on a watercourse already running low for the time of year, the response can escalate from an informal warning to a formal enforcement notice, and in more serious cases, a fine.
The current drought report classifies 18 of the river sites the Environment Agency monitors as below normal, 17 as notably low and 12 as exceptionally low. That’s a meaningful share of the country’s rivers with very little buffer left. A site discharging near any of these watercourses carries more practical risk than the same site would in a wetter year, even if nothing on-site has physically changed.
What to check on your site now
- Oil interceptors. Check for signs of reduced capacity, blockage or bypass, and confirm servicing is up to date.
- Balancing ponds and SUDS features. Look for silt build-up, reduced storage volume or vegetation die-back that might indicate a change in normal water levels.
- Pump stations. Confirm float switches, alarms and non-return valves are all functioning, since a fault here can lead directly to an uncontrolled discharge.
- Outfalls and discharge points. Visually check for any unusual staining, odour or debris that might indicate a developing leak.
- Service records. Make sure documentation is current and available, since it’s the first thing an investigation will ask for.
How Drain & Sewer Services can help
We provide inspection, cleaning and maintenance for oil interceptors, balancing ponds, pump stations and the wider commercial drainage network across Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and the surrounding areas. If your site hasn’t had its discharge infrastructure checked this summer, now is a sensible time, both for compliance and for peace of mind while the drought continues.
Call us on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk to arrange an inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a drought increase the risk around commercial discharge?
Low river flows mean less water is available to dilute anything discharged into a watercourse. A minor fault that would previously have gone unnoticed can now cause a visible, reportable problem, and the Environment Agency has confirmed it’s increasing monitoring as a result.
Does the Environmental Protection Act 1990 apply differently during a drought?
No, the legal duty to prevent pollution and maintain drainage system integrity is unchanged. What changes is the practical risk of a fault being noticed and investigated, since watercourses have far less capacity to absorb it.
What commercial drainage assets are most at risk during a drought?
Oil interceptors, balancing ponds, pump stations and any discharge point feeding into a local watercourse are worth prioritising, particularly on sites near rivers already classed as low-flow or notably low for the time of year.
How often should discharge infrastructure be inspected during a drought?
If your site hasn’t had an inspection this summer, it’s worth arranging one now. After that, following your normal maintenance schedule is usually sufficient, provided any issues found are addressed promptly.
