Full Breakdown
Drought Permit Granted for Wimbleball Reservoir Amid Exceptionally Low Levels
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Core Event
The Environment Agency (EA) has issued a drought permit to South West Water (SWW) to help secure public water supplies from Wimbleball Reservoir in Exmoor, Somerset. The permit allows SWW to pause the normal compensation flow to the River Haddeo while requiring the company to release an equivalent volume of water downstream to support abstraction from the River Exe. The permit remains in force until February 2027 unless SWW withdraws it earlier.
Current Water Levels and Impact
As of October 4, 2026, Wimbleball Reservoir was at 18 % of its total storage capacity, compared with 30 % at the same time in 2025. The reservoir supplies drinking water to about 390,000 people across Mid Devon, East Devon, parts of Dorset, Exmouth, Crediton, Honiton and Lyme Regis. The EA warned that the permit alone will not guarantee supply security; SWW must continue to implement its statutory drought plan.
Official Response and Planned Measures
Joanne Laeger, area drought manager for the EA, emphasized that “Drought has not gone away with the arrival of autumn and the rain that would normally accompany the change in season.” She added that the agency is monitoring the situation closely and will act if environmental impacts emerge. SWW has also applied to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for a non-essential use ban, which would restrict water use for certain businesses across Mid Devon, East Devon and Dorset. The National Drought Group, which includes EA representatives, continues to meet weekly to coordinate sector-wide responses, while broader water-industry reforms are slated for the government’s strengthened Water Bill later this year.
Data & Statistics
- Wimbleball Reservoir storage: 18 % (Oct 4 2026) vs 30 % (Oct 4 2025).
- Population served: ? 390,000.
- Permit duration: until February 2027.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Drought has not gone away with the arrival of autumn and the rain that would normally accompany the change in season.” — Dorset. Joanne Laeger, area drought manager of the EA