Flows in the River Test, in Southampton, Hampshire, are falling and current forecasting shows we may need to use a drought permit to continue to use the river as a resource to supply tap water to the region.
The River Test is a vital source of fresh water for south Hampshire. A drought permit would be necessary to help protect the environment and health of the river, which we know is important to our customers.
This of course is a situation that can change over the coming days and weeks, and we will be continuing to work closely with the Environment Agency.
While in the process of applying for a drought permit, we urge and remind all customers in Hampshire to reduce water use wherever possible, to help us protect the impact on the river’s habitat.
Nick Price, Water Resources Strategy Manager at Southern Water:
“With river flows dropping following a dry winter and spring, the risk is increasing that we will need to use a drought permit in order to continue supplying water. The less we take out of the River Test for water supply, the more we leave in it for wildlife and to support its precious habitats. We continue to ask customers to use water wisely.”
Playing our part – tackling leakage
We face serious water challenges in the years to come but we’re already taking bold steps to cut people’s water use and reduce leakage in Hampshire and across the region that we serve.
We’re working hard to keep our leakage levels as low as possible. We’ve fitted 7000 acoustic loggers which can detect and pin point leaks - even on deeply buried pipes where there would be no evidence at surface level and we’ve expanded our find and fix teams. Last year we make 17000 repairs.
Our aim is to reduce leakage by 15% by 2025 and 40% by 2040.
Notes to Editors:
Water for Life - Hampshire
Changes to Southern Water’s abstraction licences on the River Test and River Itchen and predicted future changes mean a shortfall of about 190Ml/d during a 1-in-200-year drought to meet the forecast demand for water – about 80-85% of the amount needed to supply customers in the south Hampshire area.
The potential frequent need for a Testwood Drought Permit is brought about by the proposed Testwood abstraction licence change, which includes a new flow condition that stops abstraction when river flow falls below 355 Ml/d.
River levels can be seen here.
Following a Public Inquiry, we have agreed with the EA to rely on Drought Orders and Drought Permits to allow us to continue to take water from the rivers during dry weather, while we invest in new water resources under our Water for Life – Hampshire programme.
More information on the programme can be found at www.southernwater.co.uk/our-story/water-resources-planning/protecting-hampshires-rivers
Applying for a drought permit
We are in the process of applying for a drought permit for the River Test.
Once a permit is approved, we then must take the decision if and when we need to implement it. This means we would be asking our customers to be extra vigilant with their water use, and potentially imposing Temporary Use Bans (TUBS – previously known as hosepipe bans) in certain areas.
We know this may be disruptive but we thank all for their understanding, patience and we will continue to update our customers on the situation with the River Test.