River Ouse And Shell Brook - Drought Order 2025
What is happening?
THE SOUTH EAST WATER LIMITED (RIVER OUSE AND SHELL BROOK) DROUGHT ORDER 2025
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 Order by the Secretary of State following an application made under Section 73(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The Drought Order temporarily amends South East Water’s Abstraction Licence (Number 21/128), until 2nd June 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;
2. The period when authorised abstraction can occur from the Upper Ouse, amended from 1st November to 30th April, to the period when the Drought Order is in force, subject to meeting all other conditions under Schedule 4 of the Abstraction Licence.
3. A reduction in the Minimum Residual Flow (MRF) at Barcombe when
abstraction must not occur from 20,000m 3 per day to 15,000m 3 per day if the storage volume in Ardingly Reservoir is more than 500 megalitres (Ml), or to 10,000m³ per day if the storage volume in Ardingly Reservoir is less than 500Ml.
The Drought Order will help to reduce the operational rate of drawdown, and assist in the winter refill of Ardingly Reservoir. The two scenarios in amendment number three, above, are designed to ensure an appropriate balance between the impact of the Drought Order and the severity of the drought situation.
The adjustments to the Abstraction Licence are designed to minimise the impact to the water environment and associated ecology. Catchment monitoring is a condition of the Drought Order and will be undertaken throughout the period when the Drought Order 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 during 2026.
Anyone may inspect the Drought Order free of charge at the addresses below during normal working hours (9am to 4pm), until Thursday 18 December at:
Barcombe Village Hall, Barcombe Mills Road, Barcombe, Lewes BN8 5BH
South East Water, Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5AH
A copy of the Drought Order will be hosted at
Nick Price, Head of Water Resources, South East Water
11 December 2025
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