EA issues Wimbleball drought permit as SWW applies for NEUB

(by Karma Loveday)

The Environment Agency (EA) issued a drought permit to South West Water (SWW) relating to its Wimbleball Reservoir, as the company in parallel applied to Defra for a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB).

Wimbleball in Exmoor serves 390,000 people, and was at 18% capacity on 4 October following this summer’s prolonged hot, dry weather. This time last year it was at 30% capacity.

The permit temporarily allows South West Water to pause normal compensation flow to the River Haddeo, but only while it releases at least the same volume of water downstream to support abstraction from the River Exe for public supply. The EA said this will help conserve Wimbleball’s water storage, with conditions attached to protect the Haddeo, the Exe, and the habitats and wildlife they support.

South West Water initially applied for the drought permit on 16 September but amended it 13 days later. Due to the worsening situation, the firm applied for a case of urgency on 1 October to remove the need for public examination of objections. This was accepted and the EA granted the permit on 2 October.  It will remain in effect until 28 February 2027 unless the company withdraws it before then.

The NEUB, if granted, will affect businesses in the Exeter, Exmouth, Crediton, Sidmouth, Tiverton, Honiton and surrounding areas across mid and parts of East Devon, as well as a small part of Dorset including Lyme Regis. It would include restrictions on: watering plants on commercial premises; filling or maintaining certain non-domestic swimming pools and ponds; vehicle washing; cleaning non-domestic buildings and premises; cleaning industrial plants; dust suppression; and other specified non-essential uses of mains water.

South West Water shared that in some parts of its region, water that would usually be taken from rivers for public water supply has been fed from reservoirs since March, because river flows have been too low to meet customer demand. This has put more demand on reservoir levels for longer.