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Thames and Southern on drought permit alert

Thames Water and Southern Water could be the next companies to apply for drought permits, while much of East Anglia remains in drought.

The Environment Agency is in formal pre-application discussions with Southern Water over Bewl reservoir, which stands at 42 per cent of useable capacity.

Thames Water is considering four possible permit applications, although with less urgency than previously due to wet weather in December.

Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and West Norfolk are still in drought.

Anglian Water was granted permits to take extra water from the River Nene to top up its Pitsford and Rutland reservoirs in November and December respectively.

South East Water has not yet used a drought order granted in December to replenish Ardingly Reservoir, as rainfall relieved the situation. However, the reservoir remains low, at 39 per cent of useable capacity. The company is under investigation over mis-measurement of reservoir volumes which led to a delay in taking action.