The Environment Agency has approved a drought permit allowing Severn Trent Water to extract more water from the River Derwent to replenish Carsington and Ogston reservoirs in Derbyshire. The permit temporarily adjusts the company’s abstraction licence, lowering the threshold at which water extraction must be reduced from 680 to 500 megalitres per day, as measured at the Derby gauging station.
The decision follows a public consultation and aims to safeguard water supply amid ongoing drought conditions across the Midlands. Severn Trent will need to notify the Environment Agency before using the permit and conduct environmental monitoring to manage potential impacts.
Reservoir levels in the East Midlands remain below seasonal averages, with storage at 48% capacity at the end of October compared to 85% last year. The region has been under official drought status since mid-July 2025. Despite intermittent rainfall, long-term replenishment of aquifers and rivers will require sustained wet conditions through winter.
The permit supports Severn Trent’s operational continuity for domestic and business customers as it continues investment in leak reduction and water efficiency measures across its network.
