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South East Water Limited Application For Drought Permit
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SOUTH EAST WATER LIMITED
APPLICATION FOR DROUGHT PERMIT 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 is applying to the Environment Agency for a Drought Permit under section 79A of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The proposed Drought Permit will involve amending South East Water’s Abstraction Licence (Number 21/128), dated 30th March 2004, as follows:
1. Reduce 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 4,000m3 per day to 1,000 m3 per day; and
2. Reduce the Minimum Residual Flow (MRF) at Barcombe when abstraction must not occur from 20,000m3 per day to either 15,000m3 per day or to 10,000m3 per day depending on the storage volume within Ardingly Reservoir. The two scenarios are designed to ensure an appropriate balance between impact of the Drought Permit and the severity of the drought situation (further information is included in the application documents to explain when the 15,000m3 and 10,000m3 MRF thresholds would apply).
The anticipated effect of this Drought Permit, if granted, will be to reduce the operational rate of drawdown of Ardingly Reservoir.
The proposed adjustments to the Abstraction Licence have been designed to have minimal consequence to the water environment and associated ecology. Catchment monitoring will be undertaken throughout the winter period when the Drought Permit will be operational and any appropriate mitigation strategies will be deployed, if any are required. This response will help South East Water continue to supply drinking water for the remainder of the year.
Anyone may inspect the proposals free of charge at the addresses below during normal working hours (9am to 4pm), until Friday 4 September at:
● Barcombe Village Hall, Barcombe Mills Rd, Lewes BN8 5BH
● South East Water, Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH
A copy of the application documents will be hosted at
www.southeastwater.co.uk/drought-permit
Objections may be made to the Environment Agency quoting the name of the applicant and reference NPS/DP/250017 by email to:
PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk
Or by post to: Environment Agency, Permitting Support Centre, Water Resources Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Parkway Business, Park, Sheffield, S9 4WF
Objections should be made by Friday 4 September. The response should outline if you are making a formal objection to the proposal and the grounds for the objection.
Nick Price, Head of Water Resources, South East Water
28 August 2026
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