![The River Pang in Berkshire, August 2005](/sites/default/files/2022-12/historic-droughts-Drought-2004-2006-800x480.jpg)
The 2004/2006 drought had a strong regional focus and was generally most severe in the driest parts of the UK where groundwater is the major source of water supply and a combination of high population density, intensive agriculture and commercial activity generates the highest water demand. Careful management was required to reconcile the needs of a wide range of water users with the requirements of the aquatic environment.