Sussex reservoir remains unused as nearby supply nears crisis

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:44 · Archive

A full reservoir near Sussex sits unused whilst a nearby reservoir has dropped to 17 per cent capacity.

Weir Wood reservoir, owned by Southern Water, sits nearly full with more than 80 per cent of its capacity, located less than six miles from Ardingly reservoir in Haywards Heath, Sussex. Ardingly reservoir, which serves parts of South East Water's network, has fallen to 17 per cent capacity, prompting the Environment Agency to declare a 'severe drought' in the areas it serves. South East Water has been granted extended drought powers to cut water releases from Ardingly as a result.

Weir Wood's water treatment works, built in the 1950s, has been out of supply since 2018. Southern Water determined the works faced 'significant reliability and water-quality challenges' and had 'reached the end of its operational life'. The company is undertaking a complete rebuild of the treatment works, with completion expected in 2030.

At the end of 2025, when Ardingly reached worrying low levels, South East Water drew up emergency plans to run an overground pipeline between the two reservoirs, but the plan was shelved when it started raining. Southern Water stated that making Weir Wood's treatment works operational would not resolve Ardingly's supply problem, as the two reservoirs serve different parts of South East Water's network through existing interconnected systems.

How it is being reported

• Drought powers extended to cut water releases from Ardingly Reservoir as capacity drops 'cricitcally' lowSouth East Water has been granted extended drought powers to cut water releases from Ardingly Reservoir as capacity drops to a critically low 17 per cent.Chichester Observer · 22 Oct, 17:26
• Full reservoir remains unused in 'severe drought'As drought grips Sussex, could a full reservoir just miles away from Ardingly help?BBC Sussex · 22 Oct, 06:10

In this story: Weir Wood reservoir · Ardingly reservoir · Southern Water · South East Water · Environment Agency · Sussex · Haywards Heath

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