t TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious water shortage in the South Yorkshire area caused by an exceptional shortage of rain, YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LIMITED (company number 02366682) whose registered office is at Western House, Halifax Road, Bradford, BD6 2SZ is applying to the Environment Agency under section 79A of the Water Resources Act 1991 for drought permits in the River Don catchment. 

The drought permits are intended to apply until 1 June 2023 inclusive propose to reduce the compensation releases from Scout Dyke Reservoir, Underbank Reservoir, Damflask Reservoir, Morehall Reservoir and Rivelin Reservoir, and to reduce the maintained flow at Dunford Bridge.

Scout Dyke Reservoir (grid reference SE 23 04)

Yorkshire Water releases water from Scout Dyke Reservoir under conditions defined by the Ingbirchworth Reservoir abstraction licence (2/27/05/012). The terms of the licence state Yorkshire Water must release flow from Scout Dyke Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourses, Scout Dike and the River Don. Under the licence conditions, Yorkshire Water must continuously discharge not less than 4.00 megalitres per day when the reservoir level is above the control line defined in the licence, or 2.70 megalitres per day when the reservoir level is below the control line.

The drought permit application for Scout Dyke Reservoir is to reduce the compensation release required when the reservoir is below its control line to 1.35 megalitres per day. There would then be a further reduction to 0.90 megalitres per day if regional reservoir stocks were below the regional Drought Control Line for four consecutive weeks or more, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

Dunford Bridge Maintained Flow (grid reference SE 16 02)

Yorkshire Water is licensed to impound water in Winscar Reservoir for supply to customers under the impoundment licence (2/27/5/152). The terms of the licence state Yorkshire Water must release flow from Winscar Reservoir and/or Lower Windleden Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourse, the River Don. Under the licence conditions, Yorkshire Water must continuously discharge to ensure the flow of water passing over the gauging weir at Dunford Bridge from 1 November to 30 April inclusive shall not fall below 9.092 megalitres per day (2 million gallons per day).

The drought permit application for the Dunford Bridge Maintained Flow is to reduce the flow at the gauging station by 50% to 4.55 megalitres per day from the date the permit is granted and to reduce further to 3.03 megalitres per day if regional reservoir stocks are below the regional Drought Control Line for four consecutive weeks or more, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

Underbank Reservoir (grid reference SK 25 99)

Yorkshire Water releases water from Underbank Reservoir under coincident conditions defined by the abstraction licence for Langsett Reservoir (2/27/05/032) and the abstraction licence for Midhope Reservoir/Knoll Brook Intake (2/27/05/011). The terms of the licences state Yorkshire Water must release flow from Underbank Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourses, the Little Don River and the River Don. Under the licence conditions, Yorkshire Water must continuously discharge not less than 21.7 megalitres per day from Underbank Reservoir when the reservoir level is above the control line defined in the Langsett and Midhope licences, or 16 megalitres per day when the reservoir level is below the control line.

The two drought permit applications are to reduce the compensation release required when Underbank Reservoir is below the control line by 50% to 8 megalitres per day from the date the permit is granted and to reduce further to 5.33 megalitres per day if regional reservoir stocks are below the regional Drought Control Line for four consecutive weeks or more, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

Damflask Reservoir (grid reference SK 28 90)

Yorkshire Water releases water from Damflask Reservoir under conditions defined by the Dale Dike Reservoir and Agden Reservoir abstraction licence (2/27/05/030). The terms of the licence state Yorkshire Water must release flow from Damflask Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourses, the River Loxley and the River Don. Under the licence conditions, Yorkshire Water must continuously discharge not less than 28 megalitres per day when the reservoir level is above the control line defined in the licence, or 18 megalitres per day when the reservoir level is below the control line.

The drought permit application for Damflask Reservoir is to reduce the compensation release required when the reservoir is below its control line by 50% to 9 megalitres per day from the date the permit is granted and to reduce further to 6 megalitres per day if regional reservoir stocks are below the regional Drought Control Line for four consecutive weeks or more, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

Rivelin Lower Reservoir/Rivelin Depositing Pond (grid reference SK 28 86)

Yorkshire Water is licensed to impound water in Rivelin Upper and Lower Reservoirs for supply to customers under the Rivelin Reservoirs and Redmires Reservoirs abstraction licence (2/27/05/029). The terms of the licence state Yorkshire Water must release flow from Rivelin Lower Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourses, the River Rivelin and the River Don. Under the licence conditions, Yorkshire Water must continuously discharge from Rivelin Depositing Pond to ensure not less than 10.3 megalitres per day flows through Rivelin Gauge to the River Rivelin.

The drought permit application for Rivelin Depositing Pond is to reduce the compensation release by 50% to 5.15 megalitres per day from the date the permit is granted and to reduce further to 3.43 megalitres per day if regional reservoir stocks are below the regional Drought Control Line for four consecutive weeks or more, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

Morehall Lower reservoir, in our Ewden group (SK 28 95)

Under conditions defined by the Broomhead Reservoir abstraction licence (2/27/05/031) Yorkshire Water must release flow from Morehall Reservoir to compensate the downstream receiving watercourses, Ewden Beck and the River Don. Under the licence conditions, we must continuously discharge from Morehall Reservoir to ensure not less than 12 Ml/d of flow through the Morehall Gauge to the River Ewden when the reservoir level is above the control line defined in the licence and 9.1 Ml/d is released when the level is below the control line.

The drought permit application for Morehall Reservoir is to reduce the compensation release when the reservoir is below the lower of its compensation control lines by 50% to 4.55 Ml/d from the date the permit is granted and to reduce further to 3.03 Ml/d if regional reservoir stocks are below the regional Drought Control Line for more than four consecutive weeks, as defined in the Yorkshire Water Drought Plan.

The anticipated effect of the proposed drought permits, if granted, will be to reduce the rate of draw down on reservoirs in the South Yorkshire area. This will aid winter refill and conserve stocks for public water supply. It will result in a reduction in flow in the downstream receiving watercourses. However, it will mean compensation flow from the reservoirs to the watercourses can be provided for longer than if the compensation releases continued at the current rates.

Yorkshire Water, in consultation with the Environment Agency, has carried out an assessment of the potential environmental impacts resulting from each of these six drought permits. This includes environmental monitoring plans and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts on the downstream ecology.

Anyone may inspect the proposals, free of charge, at the following locations during normal working hours for a period of eight days from the publication of this notice;

• Yorkshire Water, Western House, Halifax Road, Bradford, BD6 2SZ.

Open 8:00-17:00 Mon-Fri, Sat – Sun closed.

• Environment Agency, Lateral, 8 City Walk, Leeds, LS11 9AT.

Open 9:30-16:30 Mon-Fri, Sat – Sun closed.

• Penistone Post Office – 17 Market Street, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6BZ.

Open 9:00-17:30 Mon-Fri and 9:00-14:30 Saturday, closed on Sunday.

• Wortley Post Office - Park Avenue, Sheffield, S35 7DB.

Open 9:00-17:30 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. 9:00-13:00 Wednesday, 9:00-12:30 Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

• Bradfield Post Office - Woodfall House, Wood Fall Lane, Sheffield S6 6LA.

Open 8:00-17:00 Mon-Sat, 9:00-17:00 Sunday.

• Scholes Post Office - St Georges Road, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 1UQ.

Open 9:00-17:30 Mon-Fri, 9:00-12:30 Saturday, closed on Sunday.

• Lodge Moor Post Office - 58 Rochester Rd, Sheffield S10 4JQ.

Open 9:00-17:30 Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri. 9:00-13:00 Thursday and 9:00-12:30 Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

• Wharncliffe Side Post Office - 4 Brightholmlee Ln, Wharncliffe Side, Sheffield S350DD.

Open 9:00-12:30 and 13:30-17:30 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. 9:00-13:00 Wednesday and 9:00-12:30 Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

Copies of the proposals are also available to view on our website https://www.yorkshirewater.com/drought-permits

Objections may be made in writing to the Environment Agency at:

Water Resources Permitting Support Centre, Environment Agency, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Parkway Business Park, Sheffield, S9 4WF or

psc-waterresources@environment-agency.gov.uk

Objections should be made immediately and in any event by 5pm on 10 November 2022. Objectors may send a copy of their objection to the address below. Objectors may send a copy of their objection to Western House, Halifax Road, Bradford, BD6 2SZ or publicaffairs@yorkshirewater.co.uk.

Dated: 3 November 2022

Signed: Neil Dewis Perminder Kaur, Director of Water Service Delivery,Head of Legal Services