The firm’s Ardingly reservoir is now only 42 per cent full, underground aquifers in Sussex and Kent are showing no real signs of re-filling and January rainfall was only 50 per cent of the average. Lower than average rainfall throughout 2011 has had a significant adverse impact on the company's raw water resources and the situation shows no sign of any let-up.
Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources and Environmental at South East Water said that the firm was now facing the prospect of further measures in the spring and summer to protect water supplies in the absence of any prolonged periods of rainfall. He commented:
"We cannot rule out the possibility that we may have to ask for further special powers to abstract more water than we usually do from rivers, and also restrict customers' non-essential use of water with sprinklers and hosepipes."
The company has yet to use an existing drought order which lasts until 31 March. This week South East Water has launched a new consultation on its latest Drought Plan, which sets out how it will manage drought conditions and details the critical actions it will take to conserve water and secure customers’ supplies.
The updated plan will play a vital part in South East Water’s continued management of the current situation, if its water sources – both reservoirs and underground aquifers – do not get sufficient rainfall to refill them in time for the spring and summer when customer demand for water is expected to rise.
All the UK water companies are currently consulting on their Drought Plans and are inviting customers and interested parties to submit comments on those plans to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Lee Dance said:
“We very much welcome everyone’s input into this Drought Plan and any ideas or suggestions to ensure it is robust to deal with any on-going drought situation.
“South East Water already operates in a region that has been classified as water stressed which underlines the challenge we face in drought conditions.
"While the plan outlines the actions we take during a drought, such as moving water around our network and fast-tracking schemes to increase water resources, it also explains how everyone can make a difference by making sure water isn’t wasted, and how any water use restrictions, like hosepipe bans would be implemented.”
The Drought Plan highlights the way in which the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 has clarified the prohibitions on water restrictions that can be temporarily imposed during a drought. These now include a clear ban on the use of hosepipes.
Lee Dance added:
"Nobody likes to see restrictions on water use introduced but we do have to be prepared to do so if that is a course of action which will secure water for customers’ vital daily needs, such as drinking, washing and cooking. The Plan shows in detail how we would do that as we deal with worsening drought conditions."
Deadline for submission of responses to Defra is 4th April 2012. Following the consultation, South East Water will then consider all the comments it has received and then publish its response, including any changes to be made to the draft Drought Plan, by 23rd May 2012.
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