Continued heatwaves and droughts in the UK could lead to water rationing for the public, danger to critical national infrastructure and a risk of civil disorder, the Government’s emergency planning documents say.
A reasonable worst-case scenario based on three consecutive years of extreme dry weather is set out in the UK’s National Risk Register, which was updated earlier this month.
Under the scenario, large parts of southern and eastern England would experience severe drought conditions, while neighbouring areas of the Midlands and south west would also be affected. The document says “there would need to be public water supply restrictions”.
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Caption: A headshot of a common wasp (vespula vulgaris).
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news
How wasps are vanishing due to hot weather
They say it’s a very, very quiet year.
Britain appears to be experiencing an unusually wasp-free summer, with experts saying hot, dry weather has left the insects in short supply.
The decline has become so pronounced that researchers are struggling to find enough wasps for experiments.
Pest-controllers are the ‘real barometer’
Professor Seirian Sumner, a behavioural ecologist at University College London, said there have also been fewer wasp stories in the press – when they usually take up headlines in the warm spring and summer.
But professional pest-controllers are the “real barometer”, said Professor Sumner, adding: “They say it’s a very, very quiet year.”
Caption: Macro shot of wasps at the entrance of their nest
Photographer: Alexander W Helin
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Caption: Nest of Asian predatory wasps in a tree in winter. (Photo by: Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Source: Universal Images Group Editorial
What’s behind the decline?
Sumner suspects the weather is behind the wasp shortage.
A promising spring was disrupted by cold, wet spells and near-frosty nights in May, which may have killed queens or damaged young nests before colonies could form. Then came repeated heatwaves.
Caption: A person uses a hand-held fan to keep cool on Primrose Hill in central London on June 27, 2026, during a heatwave. The UK broke the record for a June temperature for the third day in a row on Friday, the Met Office weather agency said, as a sweltering heatwave strained schools and hospitals and drove down business. A provisional 37.3 C record temperature was chalked up in Santon Downham, a village in Suffolk. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP via Getty Images)
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NEWS
3 min read
Are flies driving you up the wall?
If you have noticed an uptick in flies in your home this summer, this is due to a decline in wasp numbers.
“My kitchen is utterly full of flies,” Professor Sumner said. “And one of those reasons might be because there are no top predators around, or very few top predators.”
Caption: Wasps around a honey jar in summer
Photographer: Antony Robinson
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Source: iStockphoto
Flies can carry bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella on to food they land on (Photo: PCbang/ Getty)
Wasps are voracious hunters of flies, caterpillars, ants and other insects, Sumner explained.
“You name it – wasps will eat it,” she said.
Adam Handling
(Photo: Hazel Thompson)
news
Michelin star chef forced to install CCTV over ‘evil guests’
A Michelin-starred chef has criticised “evil” diners whose children he suspects of breaking into a chicken coop at one of his pubs and destroying fertilised eggs.
Former MasterChef finalist Adam Handling said the hand-reared chickens were “his babies” and branded the children “selfish little brats” in an Instagram video.
Diners ‘frivalous’ to discipline
The chef, 37, also attacked other diners who had become “frivolous” when it came to disciplining their children and controlling their pets at his Tartan Fox pub near Newquay, Cornwall.
Caption: Aerial Image of Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall. United Kingdom. 25th August 2025.
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Caption: Close-up of a feathery red chicken. Other breeds of chickens are visible in the background.
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He said children were often allowed to use their phones at the table, while other diners let their dog kill a chicken and injure two more after ignoring signs to use a leash.
Dozens of eggs destroyed
While diners enjoyed £49 three-course Sunday lunches, Handling believes children crawled into the coop’s entrance.
Staff later found 30 to 40 smashed eggs, with yolks and shells splattered across a tree half an acre from the restaurant.
Handling now plans to install extra CCTV and motion sensors to “idiot-proof” the three-acre site.
Interview
6 min read
LIFESTYLE
3 min read
‘Totally unacceptable’
I don’t understand the parents who allow their children to act that way in public places. There were about 30 or 40 fertilised eggs that were completely smashed because of these selfish little brats. It’s totally unacceptable. It says more about the parents than the child.
chef adam handling
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TX DATE:04-03-2026,TX WEEK:9,EMBARGOED UNTIL:24-02-2026 00:00:00,PEOPLE:Adam Handling, Andi Oliver, Hannah Rose,DESCRIPTION:,COPYRIGHT:Optomen Television Limited,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Optomen Television Limited/Elvinah Xhignesse
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Are you having as much sex as everyone else?
It’s natural for libido to wax and wane due to life events, dating status or hormonal changes.
And it can be hard to say what a “normal” sexual frequency is. But research and case studies give us a rough idea.
The statistics
When it happens
61%
A 2023 survey concluded that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of us wait until night-time to have sex.
Only 14 per cent opt to get busy in the early evening, and 10 per cent in the morning.
Three
Research from 2019 suggests that the average number of times British live-in or married couples have sex per month is three.
Are Gen Z having less sex than older people?
I see my partner on the weekends and have sex with others in the week.
Leanne, a 27-year-old influencer from Bristol has sex three or four times a week, but only sees her long-distance partner on the weekends. They have agreed they can both sleep with other people during the week.
Millennials
35-year-old Rebecca usually sleeps with her partner once or twice per week due to not having much child-free time.
Clare, 32, says her job is busy and she has to schedule sex with her partner on weekends, or some afternoons twice a month. “Occasionally this slips and I do worry that it makes us not as connected,” she says.
Gen X
Daisy, 56
I haven’t had the issue of my sex life drying up with menopause. I’m more aroused now.
Anna, 52
I’ve been married for 15 years. I love my husband, but our sex life is non-existent, and has been for about five years.
Mimi, 46
I’m not really motivated to seek out partners; I vaguely like the idea of it but not enough to take any action.
Boomers
I’ve been married for 20 years and sex has become something of a rarity. We maybe have sex once a week on a Sunday morning as we’re both relaxed and I can take Viagra late on Saturday night – without it, I can’t perform.
JACK, 63, OFFICE WORKER, KENT
Couple, talk and arguing with fight at house for disagreement, conflict and divorce discussion. Woman, explain and bored man for conversation, toxic relationship and drama and marriage fail in lounge – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The seven rules that could save your marriage
Keep your sense of self
I did what I thought I was supposed to do and forgot my needs and wants. I think it’s really important that you’re an individual and not just a person who is married.
KATIE STRATFORD*, A 55-YEAR-OLD MUM OF TWO, WHO DIVORCED ATER 19 YEARS
Caption: A married couple sitting in silence, looking in opposite directions. The image captures the concept of female loneliness within a marriage, emotional disconnection, and relationship problems. Symbolizes quiet desperation and isolation at home
Photographer: Galina Zhigalova
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Seven rules to save your marriage
(Photo: Kathrin Ziegler/Getty).
The small things
Small things, like being brought a cup of tea or saying thank you, make a big difference.
Therapists
Karen Deulofeu, who ended her six-year marriage, believes all couples should seek support, even before they think they need it.
Female psychiatrist discussing with mid adult woman during therapy session – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
(Photo: MTStock Studio/Getty).
Listen
Listen properly by repeating what you have heard and ask if you’ve got that right.
Don’t lose communication
People don’t talk about the deep issues; nobody else is going to do it for you. You don’t want to ask questions because it might rock the boat…you have to keep talking, and talk about what it is that you want within the relationship to keep going forward.
KATIE STRATFORD
‘One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,’ says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi/Getty)
Seven rules to save your marriage
Remember that things change
“What you see on social media and what friends say is quite often the nice version. Everything is a phase,” says Deulofeu.
‘I’m genuinely considering returning to full-time work’ (Photo: PeopleImages/ Getty Images)
Caption: A senior couple spend time in an indoor sunny market. The woman looks through a clothes on a rail as her husband waits patiently behind her.
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Source: Moment RF
Look at yourself first
“Focus on what’s in your control and what you can do differently, rather than the other person or a situation that you can’t control. Invest in understanding yourself,” she adds.
There are things that all mid-life men should know about keeping their hearts healthy.
From eating more purple fruit to avoiding large bowls of pasta, consultant cardiologist Dr Zoe Astroulakis [below] shares her simple lifestyle habits she wishes her patients would take on board.
Positive changes to make
Swap ‘bad’ fats for healthy ones
You don’t need to eat a fat-free diet; the key is to reduce your saturated fat. Reduce your dairy and swap your red meat for lean meat such as chicken and oily fish.
Shoppers are set to face spiralling food bills as a result of the war in Iran (Photo: Bet_Noire/Getty)
Caption: man eating fried chicken
Photographer: Prapass Pulsub
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Control your portions
You don’t need more carbohydrates in a meal than you can fit in your hand. Enormous plates of pasta can cause blood sugar spikes, which can lead to health problems.
Positive changes to make
Supermarkets report increasing demand for blueberries (Photo: RHS/Guy Harrop)
Look for purple
Blueberries, black grapes and aubergines are great for boosting “good” cholesterol.
Have oats
Porridge is one of the healthiest breakfast options because it’s full of soluble fibre.
Swap supermarket-bought cereals for wholemeal oats (Photo: Arx0nt/Getty)
Ketamine has become an increasingly mainstream drug used in clubs and festivals in recent years (Photo: Getty)
Stop taking cocaine
It can provoke a massive heart attack, even in younger people who don’t have existing artery problems.
Stay below the alcohol limit
‘She doesn’t really like me drinking and says that I smell after a night out with friends’ (Photo: Getty)
The NHS guidelines of 14 units per week is still more than 1,000 additional calories.
The safest level to aim for is zero.
If you’re drinking, make sure you have some alcohol-free days each week and space it out.
Interview
5 min read
Positive changes to make
Do cardio too
Don’t only focus on lifting weights. It might make you look toned, but it says nothing about the health of your heart.
Caption: Close-up view of female jogger tying laces of her sport shoes before running exercise routine. Motivation, healthy lifestyle and fitness concept.
Photographer: Xavier Lorenzo
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Home blood pressure monitors are now available to buy for around £20, and are preferred over smart watches due to their more accurate readings (Photo: Getty Images)
Check your levels
You can get free blood pressure checks in many pharmacies or you can buy a monitor for around £30 to use at home.
Avoid night shifts
It disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm and can lead to increased cholesterol.
Engineers from a Thames Water leak hunting team unloads equipment from their van during a night shift in London in 2022 (Photo: Getty)
A sign to look out for
A beer belly is a sign you need to make urgent changes
Caption: glasses of Real ale beer on bar in traditional English pub
Photographer: Peter Cade
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Photodisc
It’s usually a sign you’re drinking too much. By the time your belly starts to bulge, it’s a sign that you’re consuming excess calories and storing too much fat internally.
LIFESTYLE
3 min read
Want a new career but worried it’s too late?
Mid-life is not too late to start again, says experienced recruiter Elizabeth Willetts [below].
Here, Willetts shares the best jobs to switch to during midlife if you want a change – without sacrificing pay.
Changing careers in your fifties
Mid-life career pivots can lead to higher earnings.
7.4%
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, workers aged 45 to 54 who voluntarily pivot jobs see an average wage growth of 7.4 per cent.
3.5%
And those aged 55 to 64 still see a 3.5 per
cent increase.
The AARP Global Employee Survey also found that over half of workers who changed jobs voluntarily experienced improvements in work flexibility and mental health.
So what job options are there?
Virtual assistant
As a virtual assistant your workload will be very varied and it could be anything from tidying inboxes, booking travel, sending invoices or updating spreadsheets.
More and more people are using AI for counselling (Photo: Oscar Wong/Getty/Moment RF)
Confident successful Indian female HR recruitment manager holding resume in hands while having an interview in a modern office, looking and listening to job candidate. Friendly interview between HR female director and caucasian job candidate. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
You can start out earning around £20 to £35 an hour, but it can scale into agency work, launch support or even project management. Some earn very well.
Recruitment
Male candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
What it involves
You will source, screen and interview candidates to match them with the right job roles.
Who it’s for
You don’t need any qualifications but it’s suited to communicators and commercially-minded people.
Rearview female recruitment reading and checking resume in hands interviewing and hiring woman candidate for joи near laptop in office with glass windows – stock photo. (Photo: Olga Rolenko/ Getty)
From April 2027, retirement savings will be included when the tax bill for those inheriting money is calculated (Photo: Malte Mueller/Getty)
The pay
The salary van vary from £25 to £50k, but you can earn around £100k depending on commission.
Jobs to switch to in your fifties
Some estate agents give high valuations to drum up business (Photo: Monkey Business Images/Getty/iStockphoto)
Estate agent
It offers flexible hours and weekend staff can earn £15 per hour.
Training
This form of coaching for businesses could earn around £250 to £1,000 per day.
Caption: portrait of confident senior business man holding digital tablet in modern office
Photographer: zeljkosantrac
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
(Photo: Getty).
Sales
In the lower end, a sales rep can make £30k and on the higher end £50-60k, plus commission.
Why coaching is a good option
Coaching is incredibly varied and can be anything from career coaching, to confidence and leadership coaching.
As it is an unregulated industry, you don’t need qualifications but the more reputable option is the International Coaching Federation.
It’s a great career option for older people because clients genuinely value your wealth of life experience.
It’s flexible, scalable, and you can start doing it part-time alongside another role.
It could make you anything from £200 an hour, all the way up to £500 p/h+.
Even though the NHS Pension scheme is envied by many for its generosity, those working for the NHS facing financial struggles are choosing to opt out (Photo: Getty Images)
Consulting
This can be across HR, operations, marketing, finance, people strategy or project management, as it’s varied.
A huge number of businesses now want expertise without having to hire full-time staff so there is a big job market for freelance consultants.
Price on value, not hours – if your advice saves a client £200k, charging £150 an hour undersells what you’re worth.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
No more orange juice. (Photo via pixaby)
It’s estimated ultra processed foods make up at least half of the average UK diet (Photo: Getty)
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Caption: Gail’s croissant
Image taken from https://gails.com/collections/breakfast/products/croissant
Croissants
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.
Caption: Toasted bread and white background
Photographer: Daniel Tamas Mehes
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: Minden jog fenntartva!
Yakitori’s on the menu at the Japanese restaurant – but what exactly is it? (Photo: Reuters)
Sushi
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Sarawak laksa is one of many varieties of this noodle soup (Photo: Tham Kee Chuan/Getty)
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Pizza
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Best pizza in Britain named – and owner reveals the secret to its success (Photo: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)
The Government has announced that the sugar tax will be extended to milkshakes (Photo: Scott Suchman)
Smoothies
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
‘Aged 14, I started what I considered to be my own little business selling confectionary,’ writes Beauty Dhlamini (Photo: Getty)
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
Which yoghurts are the best options? (Unsplash)
Caption: BANGKOK, THAILAND – OCTOBER 17: A “KT Herbalist”, a Kratom cocktail made from Kratom, coffee and siamese herbs is seen at Teens of Thailand, a bar in Bangkok’s Chinatown on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand’s third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand’s most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok’s Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand’s recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Photographer: Lauren DeCicca
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
Alcohol
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
How to age well
without pain
Will Harlow, a physiotherapist
for the over-50s and author of Independence for Life, shares
the key signs you’re ageing
badly – and what to do about it.
How to know
Ageing well is maintaining the ability to do what you want you want for as long as you want without needing help. Everyone is talking about longevity but what’s the point in living longer if the last decade is painful and you’re [totally] reliant on people?”
The signs to look out for
Senior woman on sofa feeling and suffering from back pain. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The most obvious early warning sign of bad ageing is pain says Harlow.
Another is losing confidence in doing daily tasks, which can quickly lead to a lack of independence.
One call Harlow often receives is people calling after having a fall and struggling to get up.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
How to age without pain
Many will worry about not saving enough for retirement (Photo: Alex Tihonov/Getty/Moment RF)
Not just stopping
When people retire, they often put their feet up and stop. Your body really is use it or lose it.
Sleep
Throughout our entire lives, Harlow says we need between seven and nine hours of sleep.
Naps before 1pm can lead to better cognitive performance in the following hours (Photo: Lord Henri Voton/Getty Images)
Caption: Maribel Ezcurra, 77, a retired milling machine mechanic, practices tai chi with fellow seniors in a park in the Playa neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Photographer: Ramon Espinosa
Provider: AP
Source: AP
Social isolation
The lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death by
as much as 29 per cent.
Strength training
It really is the proxy for
overall independence.
The more muscle mass you have, the less chance of heart disease, diabetes, falls and even anxiety, depression and dementia.
Caption: This is a photo of a senior man helping his wife lift weights. See PA Feature HEALTH Physio. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA feature HEALTH Physio. PA Photo.Picture credit should read: Alamy/PA.
NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature HEALTH Physio.
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The brain can be linked to muscle mass too, Harlow says. It’s not just about being able to lift things. It gives you more energy, better sleep and you’ll look and feel better.
How to age without pain
Daily habits
Do short bursts of exercise, between 30 and 60 seconds, in otherwise dead time during the day.
Fit more walking into your day (Photo: andreswd/Getty/E+)
Sleep can affect your heart health (Photo: Flashpop/Getty/Digital Vision)
Stretch in bed
Take joints through a full range of motion for five minutes to loosen it before getting up.
Don’t crash diet
It can increase the decline of muscle mass and bone density, which needs to be avoided.
Calorie counting every day can be a pain (Photo: Getty)
How to age without pain
(Photo: Inga Erhan/ Gingagi/ Getty).
Protein
Harlow advises 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight to stop muscle loss alongside resistance training.
Don’t wait
Harlow finds that many patients put off making a change to their lifestyle until their lives are consumed by pain.
Menstrual pain, woman with stomachache suffering from pms at home, endometriosis, cystitis and other diseases of the urinary system – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Caption: Close-up view of female jogger tying laces of her sport shoes before running exercise routine. Motivation, healthy lifestyle and fitness concept.
Photographer: Xavier Lorenzo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Recovery
For most people, it’s about reducing the number of times per week you’re exercising, not reducing intensity.
The three ageing tests to do
Lie completely flat on the floor and get back up to a standing position using any technique. This should take less than 10 seconds.
See how many times you can sit on the chair and stand back up again in 30 seconds. Men should be aiming for more than 14 times and women 12.
The single-leg stand, which involves standing on one leg and balancing for 10 seconds. Everyone should be able to do that and for those under 65, Harlow asks them to do it with their eyes closed.
Restrictions could range from hosepipe bans – which are already in place in some areas for the current drought in England and Wales – to rationing, when supplies to people’s homes and businesses would be turned off or limited at certain times of the day under emergency drought orders.
The risk register says: “In this scenario, there would be significant losses to the UK economy, with serious impacts on industry, agriculture and businesses.
“Severe environmental damage due to drought conditions will occur, along with an increased fire risk due to the prolonged dry conditions.
“This would be combined with a reduced ability to fight fires due to water scarcity. Some of the critical national infrastructure (including energy, transport, hospitals, emergency services and telecommunications) will be impacted by water restrictions or loss of supply.
“Data centres, for example, are highly electricity‑intensive and water‑dependent.”
Britain could face third summer of drought
Half of England currently has official drought status and it is the second year running that drought has been declared in the country – meaning a third consecutive year of extreme dry weather is not an unlikely scenario.
Some areas have had more than a month with no rainfall, while Britain is now on its fourth heatwave of the summer, leading to wildfires in Suffolk and the Cairngorms.
The Suffolk wildfire in Dunwich Heath is just three miles away from Sizewell B, the nuclear power station run by EDF Energy – although the company said on Thursday it is not on “high alert” and has emergency procedures in place to cope with a blaze even on site.
An EDF spokesperson said: “The fire at Dunwich Heath is not currently affecting operations at Sizewell B power station but we are continuing to monitor the situation – we are not on high alert.”
Critical national infrastructure like power stations, transport hubs and hospitals are of concern in a worst-case drought scenario because of the potential knock-on effects, such as loss of power or provision of essential services such as health, food, energy, communications, water, sewage and transport.
Some “common consequences” of a severe drought scenario could include “human and animal health impacts, which may include physical casualties, mental health casualties and fatalities – saving lives and alleviating suffering is a top strategic priority”.
There could also be “potential changes in public behaviour including the potential for localised civil disorder”.
Death toll rising during heatwaves
This year’s heatwaves have already led to above-average deaths.
Figures published by the UK Health Security Agency on Thursday showed there were 2,877 heat-associated deaths during two earlier heatwaves in May and June, almost double the number reported annually for 2025.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned the figures revealed the devastating consequences of climate change and that their staff were having to cope with working in indoor temperatures of above 30°C.
Patricia Marquis, executive director of RCN England, said: “Climate change is a public health emergency that is getting worse in front of our eyes. It requires urgent action from governments, including to improve NHS and care facilities so that they are safe to work and be cared for.”
A separate document drawn up by the Environment Agency last year, and updated this April, has set out different scenarios for water use over the coming decades.
It warns that England could face a water shortfall of up to five billion litres a day by 2055 if no action is taken to mitigate the effects of drought, climate change and population growth.
The agency’s National Framework for Water Resources says the projected daily shortfall is almost enough water to fill Wembley Stadium 4.5 times every day.
The report says: “Apart from the threat to water supply to homes, growing pressure could restrict economic growth, damage resilience for energy supplies, limit food production and harm the environment.
“By 2055, current predictions indicate there will be a further eight million people living in England, requiring housing and new towns.
“Forecasts suggest that climate change will increase temperatures, driving demand for water on hotter days both for individual use but also for purposes like irrigation and cooling of computer data centres.
“Climate change is also likely to change the distribution and timing of rainfall, with warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
“Together, the impact of all these pressures on water resources is unprecedented. Never have so many people and so many sectors critical to the functioning of society placed such a demand on our water resources, at a time when nature and the environment are reliant on that water to cope with a changing climate.”
A government spokesperson said: “Critical National Infrastructure providers have well rehearsed plans in place to deal with different types of extreme weather including recent heatwaves.
“More broadly, we’re working with water companies to ensure water supplies are fit for the future, investing in nine new reservoirs by 2050. These will provide around an additional 700 million litres of water a day across the country.”