Severn Trent is applying to the Environment Agency (EA) for a Drought Permit to increase the amount of water it can pump this winter out of its Foremark and Staunton Harold reservoirs near the River Dove.

Announcing the application, the water company said that while the region has seen some rain recently, this has come after one of the driest six months since 1850. If granted by the EA, this will help preserve the water supply and allow other reservoirs, such as Derwent Valley and Charnwood reservoirs (Cropston and Swithland), to refill over the coming months.

The recent rainfall has helped increase flows in rivers, which means Severn Trent is able to keep pumping water into the reservoirs from the River Dove.

However, the long dry period has had an impact on Severn Trent’s reservoir levels – the water company said that while they are recovering, it needs to plan for next year and the medium-range forecasts are still looking dry. Stocks are still currently lower than normal at Derwent Valley and Charnwood due to the very dry summer and early autumn.

Severn Trent expects the reservoirs to remain within their historical levels while the permit is in place, so there should be little impact on the environment and is aim to have the levels back up to normal before the summer.