Due to our water resources being very low for the time of year, in accordance with our drought management plan, we have taken the decision to apply for a drought permit at Ardingly reservoir.
The application for a drought permit is for a section of the River Ouse in West Sussex.
Every winter, when river levels are higher, we are permitted to pump water from the River Ouse into Ardingly Reservoir, under license from the Environment Agency. This begins in November, and allows us to take less water from underground aquifers and preserve reservoir levels so that the water levels can replenish.
The water levels in some of our reservoirs and underground aquifers are currently much lower than normal after the dry, hot, summer led to record-breaking high demand for water.
We are therefore seeking permission to start taking water from the River Ouse now, so we can balance our reservoir and groundwater supplies, minimise the amount of compensation water released into the Shellbrook and reduce the impact on the environment, while continuing to keep customers’ taps flowing.