Ardingly Activity Centre, Ardingly Reservoir & South East Water, Rocfort Road - Inspect of the Drought Permit
What is happening?
SOUTH EAST WATER LIMITED
DROUGHT PERMIT AUTHORISED FOLLOWING APPLICATION UNDER
SECTION 79A WATER RESOURCES ACT 1991
TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious water shortage in the Sussex
Region of South East Water’s supply area caused by an exceptional shortage of rain, South East Water of Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH has been granted a Drought Permit by the Environment Agency under section 79A of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The Drought Permit temporarily amends South East Water’s Abstraction Licence (Number 21/128), until 22nd March 2026, as follows:
1. A reduction in the compensation release for the purpose of maintaining flow in the Shell Brook downstream of Ardingly Dam, as measured at the Shell Brook gauge (NGR TQ 3348 2861), from 4,000m 3 per day to 1,000m 3 per day; and
2. With immediate effect, alters the period when authorised abstraction can occur on the Upper Ouse, to remove the 1st November condition and permit abstraction to occur immediately, subject to meeting all other conditions under Schedule 4 of the licence.
The Drought Permit will help to reduce the operational rate of drawdown, and assist in the winter refill of Ardingly Reservoir.
The adjustments to the Abstraction Licence are designed to have minimal consequence to the water environment and associated ecology. Catchment
monitoring is a condition of the Drought Permit and will be undertaken throughout the period when the permit is operational and appropriate mitigation strategies will be deployed, if any are required. This response will enable South East Water to ensure there is a sufficient supply of drinking water for the remainder of the year and during 2026.
Anyone may inspect the Drought Permit free of charge at the addresses below during normal working hours (9am to 4pm), until Wednesday 8 October at:
Ardingly Activity Centre, Ardingly Reservoir, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6SQ
South East Water, Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH
A copy of the Drought Permit will be hosted at
Nick Price, Head of Water Resources, South East Water
25 September 2025
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