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 introducing some additional measures to those we announced on 25 June.   Starting Tuesday 21 July, we will be adjusting lock operations as follows:  

• Locks will be open from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

On a Saturday and Sunday:

• Kibworth Top Lock 18 will be open between 10am and 2pm
• Kings Lock 38 will be open between 11am and 3pm

  We have also made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal) from Watford Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38, to navigation, effective from Tuesday 29 July 2025 at 4pm.  Further information about this planned closure can be found here From Watford Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38 | Canal & River Trust.   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 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.

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 restricting passage between Kibworth Top Lock 18 and Kings Lock 38. 

Locks will be open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

On a Saturday and Sunday

• Kibworth Top Lock 18 will be open between 8am and 3pm
• Kings Lock 38 will be open between 9am and 4pm

Please note that if you are planning to cruise through this section in one day then you will need to be through either Kibworth Lock or Kings Lock by 11am. 

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 8am and 4pm.

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