River Test - Reduced Water Abstraction Drought Order

STATUTORY NOTICE FOR DROUGHT ORDER APPLICATION

SOUTHERN WATER SERVICES LIMITED

THE SOUTHERN WATER SERVICES LIMITED (RIVER TEST) DROUGHT ORDER 2026

SECTIONS 73 AND 74(2)(F) AND SCHEDULE 8 OF THE WATER RESOURCES ACT 1991

TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious deficiency in supplies of water within the affected area, caused by an exceptional shortage of rainfall, Southern Water Services Limited of Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3NX (“Southern Water”) is applying to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Drought Order under sections 73 and 74(2)(f) of the Water Resources Act 1991.

Southern Water is licensed to abstract water from the River Test (licence number 11/42/18.16/546, as amended on 25 February 2019) (“the Licence”). Under the terms of the Licence, Southern Water is allowed to abstract a maximum quantity of 29,200 Megalitres per year, 80 Megalitres per day or 3.5 Megalitres per hour, subject to the Total Test Flow (“TTF”) remaining above the Hands off Flow (“HoF”) of 355 Megalitres per day.

The proposed Drought Order will involve an amendment to the Licence to reduce the HoF condition at the TTF from 355 Megalitres per day to 265 Megalitres per day. The proposed Drought Order, if granted, will allow Southern Water to continue to abstract water to the lower HoF in the River Test. This water is necessary to secure the supplies of water made available to the public within the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight areas of supply of Southern Water.

The Environment Assessment Report and Habitats Regulations Assessment have concluded that an adverse effect on the integrity of the River Itchen SAC cannot be discounted. This conclusion is reached due to the potential effect of the reduction of flows in the River Test before the licensed HoF on the River Itchen SAC salmon population. Southern Water Services Limited has therefore proposed a number of monitoring, mitigation and compensation measures that will be implemented to offset the potential effects of the Drought Order.

Anyone may inspect the proposals, free of charge, at the following locations, during the specified times for a period of seven calendar days from Tuesday 4 August 2026 up to and including Tuesday 11th August 2026:

• Southern Water’s head office at Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3NX;

Between the hours of 10:00 – 16:00, Monday to Friday

• Totton Library in Library Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 3RS;

Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30 to 17:00

Friday: 9:30 to 13:30

Sunday and Wednesday – closed

• Eastleigh Library at 1st Floor, Swan Centre, Eastleigh SO50 5SF

Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:30 to 17:00

Monday: 9:30 to 13:30

Sunday and Wednesday – closed

• Lord Louis Library at Orchard Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1LL

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:00 to 17:30

Saturday: 9:00 to 17:00

Sunday and Wednesday – closed

Summaries of the application will be hosted at https://southernwater.co.uk/about-us/our-plans/drought-plan/ and further details of technical aspects can be obtained by emailing droughtplan@southernwater.co.uk

Objections may be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Water Resources Policy, Seacole 3rd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF (or by e-mail to water.resources@defra.gov.uk), giving an address to which correspondence relating to the objection may be sent. Objections should be made immediately and in any event received by midnight at the end of Tuesday 11 August 2026.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will decide whether a public hearing or inquiry shall be convened. If the Secretary of State grants the Drought Order, Southern Water will publish another notice confirming this.

Southern Water Services Limited

29 July 2026