United Utilities manages reservoirs across Cumbria and the North West as well as the region’s sewers and drainage.
And downpours between November 3 and November 5 have seen the water company’s storage at Carlisle increase by 4.3 per cent while Haweswater and Thirlmere have increased by 13.7 per cent.
Thirlmere Reservoir in May following a period of low rainfall. (Image: Garry Moore)
It brings the total water stock at Carlisle to 95.9 per cent while Haweswater and Thirlmere are currently at 74.2 per cent.
Cumbria’s reservoirs are recovering from shrinkage seen in May after an extremely dry spell which was followed by a drought being declared in July.
Thirlmere remains 2.82 meters below top water level and a spokesperson for the water giant has urged customers to continue to use water “wisely” while reservoirs recover.
They said: “The heavy rainfall that we have seen over the last couple of weeks across Cumbria has meant reservoir levels have continued to recover. We continue to encourage customers to use water wisely and report any leaks they find to us.”
Haweswater Reservoir near Penrith (Image: Patrick Neaves)
A Freedom of Information Request revealed in October that 3,168 megalitres of water has gone unaccounted for in Whitehaven, Workington and St Bees in the last two years. The volume of water could fill Wembley Stadium three times.
United Utilities’ total regional water stock is currently 78.3 per cent, which is 5.3 per cent higher than in 2024.
This time last year, levels at Haweswater, near Penrith and Thirlmere, near Keswick were 66.4 per cent, Carlisle was at 93.8 per cent.
Storm Amy, which battered the county between October 3 and October 4, saw Haweswater Reservoir and Thirlmere Reservoir restocked to 65 per cent and 64.5 per cent.
United Utilities collects and publishes data on water storage every Wednesday so the impact of last week’s heavy and persistent rainfall is yet to be seen.
A Met Office Yellow weather warning was in place for much of the county on November 13, the inclement weather caused water courses to burst their banks, leading to localised flooding and disruption into Friday morning.
