South East Water has received approval from the Environment Agency (EA) to implement further restrictions on water releases from Ardingly Reservoir in a bid to bolster water supplies as the region continues to battle persistent dry conditions.
The decision follows an initial Drought Permit issued on September 29, which allowed the company to reduce outflows to prioritize the storage of water. With current reservoir levels sitting at just 17.1 per cent as of October 18—a figure noticeably lower than at the same time last year—the new agreement authorizes an extension of these powers.
John Halsall, chief executive of South East Water, emphasized that the company is taking a cautious approach to manage the low levels.
“Under this new agreement, we will reduce the rate of release in a managed, phased manner day-by-day,” Mr. Halsall said. “This stepped approach allows us to carefully monitor the River Ouse at every stage to minimize any environmental impacts, while maintaining an agreed minimum flow downstream of our Barcombe Water Treatment Works abstraction point to safeguard local habitats and wildlife.”
While long-range forecasts suggest some relief through upcoming rainfall, which is expected to assist in the slow recovery of reservoir levels, the company maintains that continued restrictions are a vital precautionary measure.
The strategy includes a robust mitigation plan aimed at protecting the local ecology. This includes specific river restoration initiatives, such as narrowing sections of the waterway to help maintain necessary flow characteristics and minimize environmental harm resulting from the reduced discharge.
The Environment Agency has described the current drought conditions as exceptionally rare, noting that such severity has not been seen in decades. Richard O’Callaghan, environment planning manager at the EA, stated: “The drought permit sets out a series of firm conditions that cut the risk of harm to the environment while supporting the public water supply at Ardingly Reservoir. We are stepping up our oversight and planning to protect public supplies in affected areas.”
Beyond the adjustments at the reservoir, South East Water is deploying a multi-pronged strategy to manage the region’s water security. According to the company, they have increased the number of teams dedicated to identifying and repairing leaks across the network, alongside adapting operational infrastructure and promoting conservation efforts to lower public demand.
Mr. Halsall expressed gratitude toward customers who have proactively reduced their water consumption, acknowledging that collective conservation is a key component of the current strategy.
“This is one of many measures we’re taking to protect water supplies and the environment across Sussex,” Mr. Halsall added. “We continue to closely monitor the situation and adapt our network to keep water flowing for everyone.”
As the region moves toward the winter months, both South East Water and the Environment Agency intend to maintain close surveillance of both the reservoir levels and the downstream impacts on the River Ouse to ensure that environmental protection remains balanced with the fundamental need for stable public water supplies.
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