Anglian Water seeks winter drought abstraction permit

Quote :: Householders will be urged to save water over Christmas after a water company became the first in almost a decade to seek a drought permit during winter.

Anglian Water has applied to the Environment Agency for the permit, which would allow the company to take extra water out of the River Nene in the east of England to top up its Pitsford Water reservoir in Northamptonshire.

This one from Northants Evening Telegraph is less dumbed-down and more informative:

Quote :: Regulations dictate that Anglian Water can take water from the River Nene providing it is at a certain level.

If the Drought Permit is approved it would be allowed to take water from the river without having to take its level into account.

Thanks mate, yes saw this.

Would set a dangerous route forward for all our rivers. The actual figure is 17million litres a day, and if the Drought Permit is approved they would be allowed to take water from the river without having to take its level into account.

At some time the EA has to come out and declare a drought, sooner the better. If the winter is anything like 1975, we are in very big trouble.

SPOCK TO ME DAD, as he lives up there, they have kmow about it 2 weeks ago, he lives about 5 miles from the nene

i heard the abstraction licences allowed water to be taken from rivers between october to april. it is november 16th and my local river has been at and below summer level the whole time except for 4 days.

Slight update. its Megalitres

'As a precaution, we have submitted an application to the Environment Agency for a winter drought permit. This permit, if granted, will allow us to take additional water from the River Nene during the winter. We have applied for this permit in winter because taking water at that time of year is less likely to have an impact on the environment.”

“If this application is granted, it will allow us to take an additional 17 megalitres per day out of the river at Duston, to pump into Pitsford reservoir.”

» Anglian Water to pay almost £42,000 for polluting River Chelmer
» Fears of British super-drought after record low rainfall in winter
» Water White Paper - Water For Life
» Thames Water’s River Kennet abstraction to fall
» EA urges farmers and water companies to act now in response to drought