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Drought Stricken Reservoir Near Full Neighbor
23 Oct
Summary
- Severe drought declared in Sussex due to low Ardingly reservoir levels.
- Weir Wood reservoir is nearly full, but unused since 2018.
- Proposed pipeline faces environmental and woodland concerns.
Last week, the Environment Agency declared a 'severe drought' affecting parts of Sussex due to critically low water levels at South East Water's Ardingly reservoir. This situation stands in stark contrast to the nearby Weir Wood reservoir, managed by Southern Water, which is currently over 80% full. The disparity arises because Weir Wood's water treatment works has been inactive since 2018 due to significant reliability and water-quality challenges, with a complete rebuild not expected until 2030.
An emergency plan from the end of 2025 involved an overground pipeline to transfer water from Weir Wood to Ardingly. However, this plan was shelved due to environmental concerns regarding invasive species. South East Water has indicated that while the pipeline remains a potential option, it is a complex scheme involving compulsory purchase orders and disruption to ancient woodland. Efforts to improve water sharing between the two companies are being called for by local MP Mims Davies to address the ongoing drought issue for constituents.
