Saving September showers for summer

In England, sometimes it feels like it rains all the time. However, with longer and drier periods across spring and summer, we rely on our surface reservoirs and underground aquifers during these times to store water to keep taps flowing.

In the autumn and winter months, when there is usually more rainfall and river flows are higher, we collect water in our surface water reservoirs and store it for use in the summer months. 

At this time of the year, our aquifers will also naturally refill as the ground becomes saturated and rainfall is able to filter down into them.

As we head into autumn, our surface water reservoir levels may seem low, with Ardingly at 45 % and Arlington at 42%. However, they should replenish over winter, ready to use for next summer.

Ardingly reservoir is fed directly from a tributary of the River Ouse and we can top it up by pumping water directly from the River Ouse nearby.

During wetter winters, when flows are high, the reservoir will refill naturally, and we may not need to use our river pumps.

Arlington reservoir sits alongside the River Cuckmere, and water is abstracted from the river to refill the reservoir during the winter months.

The amount of water we can take from the river is controlled by the abstraction licence we hold.

The licence is in place to ensure we take water without threatening the environment and allow it to thrive, whilst ensuring we continue to provide a sustainable water supply.

To read more about our work to protect the rivers we abstract water from, click here.

This is why it is essential to save water all year round, even when we move through Autumn and head into winter.

Using less water means our water stores can recover more quickly. For our surface water reservoirs, this means we won’t have to abstract as much from rivers to help them refill.

More than that, getting into the habit of saving water now will also mean those practices fully form by summer and have the potential to reduce demand in the peak seasons. Learn more about saving water by clicking here

In the meantime, as the weather begins to cool and we use more energy to heat our homes, another advantage to saving water is saving energy. For simple swaps to save water and energy simultaneously, please visit: https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/about/updates/water-the-silent-user-of-energy/