Descriptions
Update 14 August 2025, 2:45pm
We have continued to monitor the exceptionally dry conditions, and the impact on our reservoirs. Unfortunately, despite our operational efforts and those of our boaters to reduce the demand for water, as rainfall has remained well below the long-term average we've seen a rapid decline in the situation. To help us conserve water and maintain safe navigation, we will be closing the Northampton Arm to passage from 4pm on Wednesday 20th August. We are constantly reviewing the situation and as soon as conditions improve enough, we will do our upmost to provide temporary windows of passage through locks to allow boat movement. This will be dependent on water levels improving adequately which will require sufficient and prolonged rainfall. We understand that this continues to be disappointing news, and our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible. We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network, and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page.
Update 1 August 2025, 11:40am
This restriction remains in place to reduce water demand and allow water levels to recover. Our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates if conditions change. Despite the measures we're taking, there may be extreme local circumstances that require us to take immediate action to temporarily close some stretches to navigation.
We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network, and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our [Contact Us page]
Update 1 July 2025, 10:48am
We have continued to monitor the exceptionally dry conditions, and the impact on our reservoirs. Unfortunately, despite all our operational efforts to reduce the demand for water, as rainfall has remained well below the long-term average the situation has not improved.
To help us conserve water and maintain safe navigation, we will be bringing forward the measures to we announced on 25 June.
Starting on Wednesday 2 July, we will be adjusting lock operations as follows:
- Locks 1 to 17 will be closed from 4pm on a Wednesday to 8am on a Monday
This will help us preserve water levels while still allowing boaters to enjoy access for part of the week.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide fortnightly updates, or sooner if conditions change. Despite the measures we're taking, there may be extreme local circumstances that require us to take immediate action to temporarily close some stretches to navigation.
We understand that this continues to be disappointing news, and our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible. We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network, and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page.
Original 25 June 2025, 12:19pm
Following the driest spring in a century, water levels in some of our reservoirs have dropped. To help conserve the remaining water, from Wednesday 9 July we will be closing Locks 1 to 17 on the Northampton Arm (Grand Union Canal) from Thursday through to Sunday.
The locks will be open for passage from 8am each Monday to 4pm on a Wednesday.
The aim of this restriction is to reduce water demand and allow water levels to recover, which will mean that there will be more water available between Monday and Wednesday, and to conserve water on the Grand Union mainline. We hope this action will allow for your continued enjoyment of our waterways throughout the summer and that providing this advance warning will allow you to make suitable plans.
Thank you for your understanding. You can read about other ways you can help preserve water supplies on our website here.
An update will be provided by Friday 1 August or sooner if the situation changes.
