The combination of factors experienced in 2025 have been extraordinary - from record demand to prolonged periods of dry weather and a significant lack of rainfall.
This means it has been necessary to apply for a couple of different Drought Orders to protect customer supplies.
Drought Orders are decided on by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and allow us to make changes to abstraction licences or have the ability to restrict water uses.
Drought Orders do require there to be a consultation period, before a decision is granted.
Below you will find information on the two applications we have made:
- Drought Order for the River Ouse - Applied for on 10 October, consultation period now ended
- Drought Order for a Non Essential Use Ban (NEUB) - Applied for on 24 October, consultation period now ended
River Ouse Drought Order Approved
On 10 October 2025, we applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Drought Order to help manage the water resource situation in Sussex. This has now been approved.
We applied for the Drought Order because we experienced extremely low rainfall for a large part of the year, which resulted in the water level in Ardingly Reservoir approaching critically low levels.
On 22 September the company was granted a Drought Permit by the Environment Agency to help conserve storage in the reservoir. This Drought Order now supersedes the Drought Permit and will last for up to six months, to 2 June 2026.
What this Drought Order does
A Drought Order allows changes to be made to abstraction licences when there has been an exceptional shortage of rain. Both water companies and the Environment Agency (in England) can apply to the Secretary of State for a Drought Order to manage water resources for water supply and environmental benefit.
As the Drought Order supersedes the Drought Permit, in addition to the reduction in the compensation release from Ardingly Reservoir and the time when the company can abstract water from the Upper Ouse to refill the reservoir (see the Drought Permit page for more on this), the Drought Order also allows a reduction in the amount of water that the company must ensure is flowing in the river over Barcombe Weir which is downstream of its water treatment works abstraction point.
We are continuing to take a number of actions to reduce pressure on water resources, including fixing leaks, moving water around the network and maintaining a hosepipe ban in Kent and Sussex. While these measures have had an impact, the exceptional weather conditions experienced in the summer meant more action was needed to protect customer drinking water supplies and the environment.
Will this affect me?
The Drought Order does not directly affect customers, however, the Temporary Use Ban (hosepipe ban) is still currently in place and affects customers in Sussex.
The decline of Ardingly Reservoir
You can see the decline of Ardingly Reservoir since March 2025 here.
Although we have experienced nearer to average rainfall in the last few months, which is aiding recovery, cumulative rainfall between March 2025 and August 2025 in that area of Sussex was around 63 per cent. That’s the ninth driest it’s been in the last 150 years.
Below is a graph to show the rainfall in the River Ouse catchment from May 2024 to September 2025 compared to the long term average.
To fill Ardingly Reservoir, at least 80 per cent of average rainfall is needed from now until the end of the winter.
Non Essential Use Ban Drought Order
On 24 October, we applied for a Non Essential Use Ban under a Drought Order. We can now confirm that we have cancelled our Non Essential Use Ban Drought Order application following a period of positive recovery at our Ardingly reservoir. Levels have been rising more swiftly in recent weeks, allowing us to transition to Level 1 in our Drought Plan.
Current situation and next steps
While the recovery is encouraging, we are maintaining a cautious approach. As of 14 December, Ardingly Reservoir is 61.6 per cent full. At the same time last year, the reservoir was at 100 per cent capacity.
Because we are still below where we would ideally like to be, we will not be changing hosepipe restrictions (TUBs) at this time. We do recognise that moving to Level 1 means we can now look at reinstating certain exemptions for our customers in Sussex. We will look to make these changes early in January.
Looking Ahead
We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. We will look to bring back exemptions for customers in Sussex over the coming weeks and will provide a further update on our plans in the New Year.
Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we manage these resources responsibly.
What is a NEUB Drought Order?
A Non Essential Use Ban (NEUB) is a restriction on mains water use for commercial and non-household customers. We apply for this under a Drought Order and it requires approval by the Secretary of State.
Under a NEUB, the categories of mains water use which could be restricted are:
- Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises
- Filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming pool or paddling pool
- Filling or maintaining a pond
- Operating a mechanical vehicle washer
- Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock
- Cleaning non-domestic premises
- Cleaning a window of a non-domestic building
- Cleaning industrial plant
- Suppressing dust
- Operating cisterns in unoccupied buildings
This is an action included in our Water Resources Management Plan and Drought Plan, but we do not take it lightly. We only apply under exceptional circumstances, and this is no longer needed.