Water management FAQs

In terms of the current status of the navigation and the weather picture, I think pretty much everyone will be aware that there has been very little recent rainfall. And at the National Drag Group today, we got updated by the Met Office to say that throughout July it's had about 4% of the average July rainfall for England and about 6% in Wales. And you only need to look at the map on the right to see how brown that is and how dire the average rainfall position has been across the whole of England and Wales and right over our navigations. In terms of what does that actually mean for a drought status or the position nationally. 

If you look at the map on the left and note the date of 16 of July, this was you know less than two weeks ago that the whole country was in what's called a normal position and we had four regions in what's referred to as a prolonged dry weather. And these maps are tools that we use and these are provided to all the water sector by the environment agency. And then within less than a week, half of the country had moved into prolonged dry weather status. So if you look at the map on the right there, the map of England, by 20 July, half of the country had moved into a prolonged dry status. 

Now, at the same time, Wales isn't included on this because this is an environment agency map and we have Natural Resources Wales as the regulator in Wales. Half of Wales, the northern half of Wales had already moved into drought status. Now, what this is clearly signalling is England is moving towards drought status and moving at a real quick pace. 

As I said, most of Wales is in drought already, but what what's actually happening is a combination of very low rainfall and the four heat waves we've had so far this year are leading to some a real rapid onset of the drought. And it's referred to as a flash drought. And this is this is basically the drought is coming really quickly and really deeply and it's affecting all sectors and all industry that the Environment Agency, National Resource Wales, the Met Office, all the water industry in terms of utility providers, the agriculture and the farming sectors, everybody is getting caught out by this rapid onset of this flash drought. The water companies um have intro are starting to introduce temporary use bans. They're referred to as TUBs that they don't like the term hose pipe bans, but that's what some people will know them as. And five water companies have already introduced those and I've put more to follow with a question mark. I think that could be more to follow with a tick that will be happening. I'm pretty sure of that. In terms of the forecast, we need rain and the forecast at the moment has a little bit of unsettled weather on the horizon and into next week, but it's not it's not going to make a difference. I've put unlikely, but it's not going to make much of a difference. 

And August which is a relatively close and a reliable forecast is forecast to be below average in terms of rainfall and there is a high chance of further heat waves and the little chart at the bottom right was shared with us by the Met Office today and when they have their three month outlook it shows the likelihood that drier and warmer weather conditions are going there's a higher likelihood of that continuing over a three month period and in some cases a much higher chance of that happening when you look at the top element of 2.3 times the chance for warm weather to be here. 

So it's pretty dire in terms of the weather forecast and the prospect of rain. So what wat does this mean for us about available water to provide uh navigation? Well, our total reservoir holdings are shown on this graph here. And the things to note are the 2025 drought of last year was bad. It was as bad as anybody can remember. And where we are right now is in a better position than 2025. But if you look at the steepness of the trajectory of how quickly 2026 is drawing down, it's on a much steeper trajectory and it's forecast to get worse and get and get worse quicker. So we are going to we are going to get to a worse position at an earlier time um based on the current forecasts that we've got. 

What this graph shows is our total reservoir holdings. But what where we also get water is from groundwater supplies and we're finding challenges with groundwater conditions and another source is via our abstractions from rivers and all our abstractions are licensed and 67 of those abstraction licenses have conditions about how much water we can take and a huge proportion of them are starting to introduce flow limits. So it limits down the amount of water we can take all the way to a position where it's called hands off flow and it means we have to stop abstracting. We're not allowed to take any water from the rivers. And five of our abstraction points right now have reached hands off flow conditions. 

So we're instructed by the agency that we cannot take any water. So we've not got enough water in our reservoirs. it's drawing down quickly and we're struggling to get enough water out of our abstraction points. And so what does that actually mean for you as our boating customers? Well, it's a it's a really poor picture at the minute out there. And you know, I I'm genuinely sorry for the service that's being provided at the moment. This, you know, this is not what we want. This this is so much harder for us to operate a canal system that's got closures and restrictions and I understand how frustrating and how upsetting this is in terms of your plans for your summer cruising. So the current positions we've got 45 total closures. So this is for all reasons and this could be asset failures such as the Whitchurch breach or Anderton Boat Lift. But it's also to do with low water issues and I'll come on to that separately. But what we're also finding is we've had a huge number of fallen trees this year. 

It is that June and July and the extreme heat wave we we've had double the amount of fallen trees we would expect in that period and we've had more trees fallen at this point this year than we've ever had since we started recording this. Some of them closure notices are planned works, things that we plan to do and it does include some of the longer term closures as well, such as the D branch. So 23 of those closures are for low water and it is fair to say it's due to not having enough water and the abstractions issues but this is also due to some of our infrastructure condition and we have got closure notices on canals where we've got enough water and this is about our as Campbell said us are we prioritising the right repairs in the right place and the right maintenance in the right place to make sure that we get the conveyance of the water from the reservoirs and that when once we get it in the canal that we keep it and we avoid leaks out of the system or leaks through the system. And the example I'd give you is the Lancaster Canal. We've got we've got enough water in the Lancaster Canal to provide most of the cruising season for this year and probably into next year, but we're really struggling to convey the water from through the northern reaches. And that's a combination of maintenance stuff with dredging and weeds and also we have got some significant leaks and we've got a cool but failure on the northern reaches. So this is a lot of infrastructure stuff is causing us problems. 

Similar at Hurleston on the Llangollen Canal, we've had to implement an emergency closure and stoppage to try and do some temporary repairs to three of the locks, which I'm pleased to say is progressing really well. But that's going to get us through a season where we can hopefully get some navigation back underway. But that again is all about prioritising the right gate replacements and the right gate repairs. Additional to all those closures, we've got 14 restriction notices. And I think I need to signal at this point those restrictions are likely to turn into closures based on um the the current water position and the forecast on the horizon. So in terms of what we're doing, as Campbell said, we have implemented our national incident management structure. We've activated our goal command. I'm covering that role and we've got executive steer and oversight which is chaired by Campbell. 

We've got a purpose to coordinate a single consistent response across all our operations and engineering teams, contractors, colleagues, volunteers, and we're aiming to maximise our water supply and retention works to provide navigation. So reprioritising repairs for those water retention elements and also in parts of the canal network that are most significant in terms of key navigation routes numbers of boat movements that we have there those that best support boating businesses as well as support our water transfer obligations. We're trying to prioritise repairing lock gates and paddles, bringing some stoppages forward where we're going to get windows, and identifying fixing leaks, improving feeder channels, and carrying out other water. So doing all this work and being agile and reacting to it means we are going to have to pause some other works and that they're difficult calls to make and what we will be doing is we'll be making sure we speak to navigation advisory group key stakeholders you we would welcome your thoughts on you know reprioritising some of the works that we're doing to help us inform these decisions and similarly we might have implement closures and we are already implementing closure closures on net parts of the network that will then help protect and save the water for higher priority areas. 

So the relatively simple decisions on that are where we've got an arm that might be a dead end that goes that people can turn around in that might be leaky. So if we can close that and put some planks in and stop the leaks, it might retain and it should retain for longer the water supply in in the route or the cruising ring or whatever that might be. And we are going to use our emergency powers where we need to and where we can. So, this is meaning a day-to-day pivot of our teams focusing on water control, trying to support our boating customers, better water management, but it means we're going to have to suspend stuff and we're suspending some of the plan preventative maintenance work to maximise the availability of our resource and our people. We're really trying to step up our customer communication. 

This evening is part of that. We're trying to give as much forewarning and trying to communicate quicker with you. We understand that timely, quick, and accurate information allows you to make good decisions about do you move your boat, do you send it, do you go do you go left or right when you hit a junction? 

So, we're going to be constantly updating our uh FAQs. One of my colleagues will put a link in the chat and the challenge we're going to have is our aspirations for giving multiple week notice of closures and restrictions and maybe too ambitious in this state with this rapid onset flash drought. We're finding that things fall over really quickly and we're not being able to give you as much notice as we can. We will endeavour to do that, but please bear with us. We are closing some things at short notice. Please can I ask you use the stoppage notice page to keep a breast of what's going on. Subscribe to the stoppage notices if you haven't already. And we are already undertaking our planning for contingency measures um to support our boaters to support our navigation assets and to support the environment.

We have activated our highest level of operational response, known as Gold Command, to ensure the situation is managed with urgency across the Trust. 

Alongside day-to-day water management, we are changing how we prioritise work across the network. We know we can't fix everything at once, so we are focusing resources on projects and repairs that help retain water and support navigation in key through-routes, locations that support boating businesses, and waterways with water transfer obligations. 

This includes activities such as repairing lock gates, identifying and fixing leaks, grouting waterway walls, improving feeder channels and carrying out other water-saving infrastructure works. Where canals are temporarily closed to navigation, we are bringing forward maintenance and repair works wherever possible to make best use of the period of closure and minimise future disruption. 

Our volunteer lock keepers continue to support water-saving measures by helping manage boat movements through locks and lock flights. 

We are using our notices, Boaters’ Update, website and social media channels to keep customers informed and share the latest information.

Where possible, we’ll give at least two weeks’ notice via our stoppage system. However, weather conditions can change rapidly, and occasionally closures may need to happen with less notice.

To ensure you don’t miss important information, you can use our notices to view all closures, restrictions and advice notices. Filter by 'stoppage reason' rather than 'type', as some current restrictions are planned to become closures at a future date. All information will be within the notice.

Although water supplies were generally in a stronger position than at the same point last year, water levels have reduced much more quickly than expected over recent weeks due to the prolonged dry weather.  

At the same time, some infrastructure issues with feeders and pumps have affected our ability to move and replenish water in parts of the network. Together, these factors have required the rapid introduction of restrictions in certain locations.

The current drought requires us to make difficult decisions about where available water can have the greatest benefit. 

We are prioritising projects and operational activity that help retain water and support navigation on key routes, support boating businesses, and meet wider environmental and water management obligations. 

We recognise that not everyone will agree with every decision. We are committed to engaging with boating stakeholders to help inform these difficult choices and ensure we understand the impacts on different parts of the boating community.

Check the stoppage notice for local advice and updates. If you live on your boat, we’d recommend returning to your home mooring if you have one and it’s possible in the timeframe. If you haven’t got a home mooring or it’s too far away to reach before closures, move to somewhere you can access essential facilities. Please don’t moor on water points or block facilities as other boats will need to use them too.

We strongly encourage all boaters to start making plans now. This includes:

• emptying waste tanks
• filling up water and fuel tanks
• stocking up on essential supplies
• considering relocating your boat to areas closer to services or, if you have a home mooring, returning your boat to your marina/mooring

We are sorry that closing locks stops through navigation, but it helps to reduce water use and maintain water levels in pounds to prevent canals running dry. 

Every lock restriction or closure comes after a detailed and ongoing review of the situation by our water management and local operations teams. They consider a wide range of factors including how much water there is to feed the canal and how much demand there is for water. Decisions around restrictions and closures also include representatives from hire boat companies.

Where restrictions or closures prevent boaters without a home mooring from moving in the usual way, we will take this into account when reviewing boat movements. There is no need to contact us separately about this.

Yes, you can move your boat within a pound, provided it is safe to do so. There may be exceptions, for example deep-draughted boats may not be able to move in low water.

Please take more care than normal and consider your route before travelling. Even navigable canals may have lower water levels than usual. Contact us if you need more advice.

If you have been unable to cruise and are in an area that is affected by closures or restrictions, please be assured that any period of reduced movement will not impact your licensing options in future. Please respect mooring time limits when navigation is possible to allow all boaters fair access to moorings, service facilities, and towns.

For more information regarding our boat monitoring process please see our page on how we monitor boat movement..

Please also read our continuous cruiser FAQs.

If a stoppage leaves you with no reasonable access to water points, refuse and recycling sites, Elsan, or pump-outs, please contact us.

While we expect most customers to make their own arrangements where access remains possible, we will offer advice and, where necessary and feasible, provide support for those in genuine need, based on individual circumstances and local conditions.

Rain needs to fall in our reservoir catchment areas for it to refill them. We’re reviewing water levels on a daily basis and will remove, or introduce, water saving measures as necessary. 

If it rains enough to allow safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted immediately: this is likely to require sufficient and prolonged rain over several weeks rather than a sudden very heavy downpour.

We’re committed to repairing any significant problems and carry out hundreds of large and small repairs every year. Please let us know about any leaks you come across. However, most water lost from man-made canals is through leaks via the canal bed and banks: our 200-year-old, clay-lined canals aren’t 100% watertight and sadly we can’t fix every leak, but we're prioritising the biggest leaks that threaten the infrastructure and that have the biggest impact on navigation. 

Where canals are temporarily closed to navigation, we’re bringing forward repairs where possible to minimise further disruption for boaters.

The best and fastest way to stay informed about restrictions is by signing up to email or text message notifications for the waterways you're interested in via our notices webpage. You can follow the instructions on how to receive stoppage notifications on your smartphone here.

A map of the affected areas can be found on the notices section of our website. Just filter by reason: ‘Low Water Levels’ and select ‘Map View’.

Please get in touch at the earliest opportunity and we’ll see what can be done to support you. If you or someone you know is struggling, our welfare team can provide signposting and support.

Periods of prolonged dry weather and drought are becoming more common. Alongside managing the immediate situation, we remain committed to improving the resilience of the canal network through targeted investment in infrastructure, reducing water loss where possible, improving our ability to move water around the network and ensuring the waterways can continue to provide benefits for boating, wildlife and local communities into the future. This planning is taking place as a matter of urgency.

Now, the fastest way to know what has been issued and where is to sign up to receive these notices as emails that are sent straight to your inbox. We'd strongly encourage everyone, if you haven't already done so, to please sign up.

In addition to these, our website canalrivertrust.org.uk can also show you all of the notices overlaid on a network map, which can be a really useful and easy way to see what is in place.

Now to see this just go to our website and then navigate to boating and click on notices and stoppages. From there you just need to scroll down a little way and again click on the notices and stoppages section.

From the main menu you are looking for filter by reason. And if you drop that list down you will see low water levels near the bottom of that list. If you pop a tick just simply by clicking the gray box, pop a tick against low water levels and clicking apply filters. Now that will sort every notice that is currently issued where the reason is a low water level.

But to see it on a map view again towards the top of the screen, clicking on map view, you now have our network with all the notices displayed. The yellow are advice notices, the light red are restrictions, and the dark red are closures. Now, to see more information, you just simply click on one of the sections, and it will give you a brief summary. Clicking on the title will then take you through to the full detail of that issued notice.

To get back to the network map, just simply press the back button and you can then press the X to close that summary down and you can move on to the next one of interest. It's possible to move the map around. So to pan the map and you can also zoom in using the scroll bar on your mouse, or the buttons at the top of the screen, and again you can move the map as appropriate by selecting - it still works in exactly the same way. It brings you the summary and you can click on the notice for more information.

I hope you found that useful and thank you.

Our website is a great source of information on the latest water resource position and any boating advice/restrictions. Our water management team produces a monthly reservoir watch on the site, which gives details of reservoir holdings across the network. Or, you can visit the stoppages page to subscribe to notifications in a particular area.

Saving water is a team effort and we all have a role to play. However boaters are by far the best partner we have in helping to save water and their support really is invaluable.

Boaters' top tips for helping to conserve water include:

• Share locks where possible and make the best use of the water available;
• Make sure paddles are fully closed once you've passed through a lock;
• Aim for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as you pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.
• Please report any leaks by calling 0303 040 4040 or emailing via org.uk/contact-us

Marina owners, particularly those with hire fleets, can help by encouraging boaters to follow these simple tips.

Please only use the water point to fill up your water tank to use for drinking water and hygiene purposes. Please do not use the water point to wash your boat with a hose or jet washer.

We also need all canal users to be vigilant about vandalism, please call the police if you have any concerns or witness vandalism.

Careful management of our precious water resources is vital. We need to maintain a minimal level of flow in the canal to protect fish and other wildlife and prevent the water from becoming stagnant. Low reservoir and canal levels, coupled with higher temperatures in summer months, can cause problems such as algal blooms and low oxygen levels in the water. In extreme cases, we may intervene to save distressed fish with large scale fish rescues.

The majority of water lost from man-made canals is through leakage via the canal bed and banks. Much of today's current waterway navigation network consists of clay-lined canals which are more than 200 years old. These are not 100% watertight and it would be impractical to fix every leak. However, we are committed to identifying and repairing any significant problems and carries out hundreds of large and small repairs every year.

Whilst boat passage through locks is an obvious use of water, evaporation and transpiration can see canals lose as much as an inch of water on hot summer days. An underlying ‘sweetening flow’ is also always needed to protect the canal infrastructure (if canals dry out completely this can damage clay beds and locks), support ecology and avoid canals turning stagnant.

No, our experience shows that where we've implemented similar restrictions in the past, we've subsequently seen decreases in total lock usage. However, the water resource savings do vary across different canals and between years.

The loss of water from a canal pound due to leakage and seepage is the largest component of water demand on a canal system. Loss rates are at their highest during the summer, when soil is dry and water tables are low. The leakiest part of the canal lining is the top 15 cm (6 inches), because it is continually wetted and dried. It is also subject to holes or cracks formed by burrowing animals and wave action from boat propellers. So, increasing the operational level of a pound, especially in a drought, would greatly increase loss rates. During a drought, we actually aim to run pounds as low as operationally possible to reduce losses.

We have a rolling programme of surveys to monitor the capacity of our reservoirs and these show that generally, over a number of years, siltation hasn't been a significant problem. It is also generally accepted across the water industry that the removal of silt from reservoirs is considerably more expensive than creating new resources or reducing demand elsewhere. This cost means that reservoir dredging is very rarely cost-effective and, particularly so in this case given the results of our reservoir monitoring.

As well as responding to unfolding droughts, we also take a more strategic approach to managing future water resources. Our water management team is responsible for assessing the resilience of water supply and advising the business on the potential impact of proposed canal developments (e.g. new marinas) and investment required to supplement water resources.

We reserve the right to object to or decline canal development proposals on the basis that they may have an unacceptable impact on the existing water supply. Unfortunately, we can never give absolute assurances to our customers about having enough water to get through every drought, regardless of the extent, duration and severity but we will do whatever we can to keep as much of the network as possible open.