United Utilities has requested permission to abstract more water from three lakes in Cumbria to protect public water supplies.
The company submitted three drought applications yesterday (19 July) to increase the amount of water it can take from Lake Ullswater, Lake Windermere and Ennerdale Water.
It is the first time the company has applied for a drought permit since 2010.
Water companies can make drought applications if there is an exceptional shortage of rainfall and public water supplies are at risk.
United Utilities has applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for a drought order allowing it to take more water from Ennerdale, which feeds the River Ehen and is a special area of conservation.
It has requested to increase, for a period of three months, its present drawdown limit from 1.7 metres to 2.5 metres below the crest of the dam.
The water company has also applied to the Environment Agency for drought permits allowing water to be taken from Windermere and Ullswater despite low river levels.
The first permit requests permission to abstract water from Lake Windermere when the flow of the River Leven is lower than permitted under its current abstraction licence.
United Utilities said this will result in a reduction of the amount of water needed to be abstracted from Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoirs and help safeguard longer-term supplies for public use. If approved, the drought permit will apply for six months.
The second permit would allow United Utilities to continue to abstract water from Ullswater when the flow in the River Eamont is lower than permitted under its current abstraction licence. This permit aims to increase storage in Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoir and will also last for six months, if approved.
Martin Padley, United Utilities water services director, said: “The reducing raw water reservoir levels are not surprising given the ongoing lack of rainfall. Applying for drought permits is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency, to ensure that water supplies are protected for both customers and the environment.”
Jim Ratcliffe, Environment Agency drought manager, added: “We are currently checking whether we have all the information we need to begin to determine these applications.
“Any drought permit would only be issued to United Utilities after public consultation and a review of all the available hydrological data. The water resources situation could also improve if demand for water reduces or if enough rain returns to replenish supplies.
“The Environment Agency will always balance the needs of the public, businesses, industry, farmers and the environment.”
United Utilities also intends to impose a hosepipe ban from 5 August. The restriction measures to help reduce demand for water have been welcomed by the Environment Agency.
Ratcliffe, said: “United Utilities’ plans for a temporary usage ban is a responsible measure to help preserve public water supplies and protect the environment given the impacts we are seeing from the dry weather.”
Water UK has stressed “Britain is not about to go into a drought”. The trade body said above average rainfall in spring this year means water supplies across the UK are “generally healthy”.
It said: “Although most water companies in the UK do not anticipate the need for hosepipe bans to reduce demand this summer, two have taken action.”
Northern Ireland Water placed a hosepipe ban on 29 June which has now been lifted and United Utilities’ ban will come into force early next month unless the North West gets a period of sustained rainfall.