Following an application by Yorkshire Water Services Limited to the Environment Agency for a drought permit in the River Derwent catchment under section 79A of the Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended), on 21 December 2022 the drought permit was granted by the Secretary of State and will cease to have effect on 31 March 2023. The drought permit authorises an increase in the annual volume of water that Yorkshire Water Services Limited can abstract at Loftsome Bridge WTW and a corresponding decrease in the amount that Yorkshire Water Services Limited can abstract at Elvington WTW. The total in aggregate across the two abstractions remains unchanged.

Anyone may inspect the permit as granted, free of charge, during normal working hours at:

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

• Howden Centre Library, 69 Hailgate, Howden, DN14 7SX.

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

• Copies of the permit are also available to view on the Yorkshire Water website https://www.yorkshirewater.com/drought-permits