Yorkshire Water has applied to the Environment Agency for drought permits in the River Don catchment due to the threat of a serious water shortage in the South Yorkshire area caused by an exceptional shortage of rain.
The drought permits, which are intended to apply until 31 March 2019, propose to reduce the compensation releases from Scout Dyke Reservoir, Underbank Reservoir, Damflask Reservoir and Rivelin Reservoir.
Yorkshire Water is also proposing to reduce the maintained flow at Dunford Bridge. Scout DykeReservoir - the company releases water from Scout Dyke Reservoir under conditions defined by the Ingbirchworth Reservoir abstraction licence. The drought permit application is to reduce the compensation release required when the reservoir is at or below 25% of its capacity to 2.7 megalitres per day then after 2 weeksto reduce further to 1.35megalitres per day.
In consultation with the Environment Agency, the water company has carried out an assessment of the potential environmental impacts resulting from each of the six drought permits. This includes environmental monitoring plans and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts on the downstream ecology.
Deadline to submit objections is 5pm on 7th December 2018 – click here to view the drought permits in full.
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