To help us ensure there's enough water for everyone, we're applying for a Drought Permit from the Environment Agency (EA), at our Ardingly reservoir.
This means we will be able to take more water from the River Ouse now, to give our underground water resources and reservoirs a chance to recover.
What has happened?
This year has been exceptionally dry, with the south east experiencing the driest spring since 1893. The extremely dry weather and multiple heatwaves are having an impact on our water resources, and the rivers we take water from are running low. Our reservoirs are also much lower than we'd expect at this time of year.
What we've done so far
We've worked hard to keep the taps flowing, by moving water around our network and finding and fixing leaks quicker than ever before. Our customers have also helped too, by being mindful of their water use where possible, thank you. We also enforced a hosepipe ban for customers in Kent and Sussex on 18 July, which has significantly reduced the demand for water, however it's still not enough.
What this means
Every winter, when river levels are higher, we are permitted to pump water from the River Ouse into Ardingly reservoir, under licence 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. To help us refill our reservoirs over winter, we are seeking permission from the Environment Agency to start taking water from the River Ouse now. This means we can balance our reservoir and groundwater supplies, reducing the impact on the environment, while continuing to keep your taps flowing.