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Drought Order Risks Damaging Iconic UK Chalk Stream
6 Aug
Summary
- Southern Water applies for drought order to draw more water from River Test
- Environmentalists warn order could "significantly and potentially permanently" damage the river
- River Test is home to endangered salmon and otters, a rare chalk stream habitat
As of August 6th, 2025, Southern Water has applied for a drought order that would allow the company to draw larger quantities of water than usual from the River Test, an internationally prized chalk stream and rare salmon habitat in Hampshire. Environmental groups have urged the environment secretary, Steve Reed, to intervene and stop the water company from "significantly and potentially permanently damaging the river and the ecology within".
The River Test is home to endangered salmon and otters, and experts warn that lowering the river's flow levels could have severe effects on fish spawning and the overall river health. When rivers fall to low flow levels, their ecosystems can take years to recover, with the potential for lasting damage.
Conservationists argue that the River Test, one of only around 200 chalk streams in the world with 85% located in England, is a unique and biodiverse habitat that must be protected. They are calling on the government to block Southern Water's drought order application, which would reduce the river's flow limit by a third and potentially "banish an endangered species to oblivion".
