The Environment Agency has officially issued a drought permit for Wimbleball Reservoir in Exmoor, Somerset, as water levels remain exceptionally low following a record-hot summer. The emergency regulatory measure grants South West Water greater flexibility to manage public water supplies that serve approximately 390,000 people across the region.
According to regulatory figures released by the Environment Agency, the crucial reservoir held just 18 percent of its total storage capacity on October 4. This represents a steep decline compared to the same time last year, when storage levels stood at 30 percent. Wimbleball Reservoir has a total design capacity to store more than 21 billion liters of water.
Emergency Permit Conditions and River Protections
The newly granted drought permit provides temporary legal mechanisms allowing South West Water to modify its standard operational constraints. Specifically, the utility company is permitted to pause its normal compensation flow into the nearby River Haddeo.
However, strict environmental safeguards remain attached to the order. South West Water is legally required to release at least an equivalent volume of water downstream to sustain abstraction points along the River Exe, which feeds public supply networks. Joanne Laeger, area drought manager at the Environment Agency, emphasized that environmental monitoring remains paramount.
Drought has not gone away with the arrival of autumn and the rain that would normally accompany the change in season. Steps must be taken to secure public water supply and we are keeping a close eye on the environment, ready to respond to signs of impact and distress.
The Environment Agency confirmed that conditions have been specifically written into the permit to protect both the Haddeo and Exe rivers, alongside surrounding ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and indigenous species. The emergency measure will remain in force until February 28, 2027, unless withdrawn earlier by the water provider.
Timeline of the Drought Permit Application
The regulatory approval followed an expedited application process due to rapidly deteriorating environmental indicators:
- September 16: South West Water initially submits its drought permit application.
- September 29: The utility amends its formal application terms.
- October 1: Amid worsening conditions, the company requests urgency status to bypass public examination of objections.
- October 2: The Environment Agency formally grants the drought permit.
Wider Restrictions and Outlook for the Region
Despite the operational flexibility granted by the permit, regulators have issued clear warnings that the measure alone will not be sufficient to safeguard long-term supplies. South West Water is mandated to continue executing its statutory drought plan, enforce aggressive leakage reduction targets, and manage consumer demand.
In tandem with the reservoir measures, South West Water has applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for a non-essential use ban. This proposed restriction would target specific business water uses across Mid Devon, parts of East Devon, and Dorset.
Meteorological forecasts indicate a changeable weather pattern through October, but hydrological recovery will heavily depend on cumulative winter precipitation. Officials note that if Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly experience above-average rainfall over the winter months, the region could transition out of drought status into a fragile recovery phase by April 2027. Conversely, failure to replenish catchments risks carrying a severe water deficit into the following dry season.
