Drought permits could be introduced at 12 reservoirs in and around the Bradford district - with a warning that measures could last well into next year.
There is a real "threat of a serious water shortage in the Yorkshire area," according to an alert in Yorkshire Water's latest public notices.
The proposed measures come as officials seek the right balance between protecting the public water supply and maintaining a flow into rivers and becks downstream from reservoirs. The issue is a sensitive subject as any change in compensation flow from reservoirs can impact on wildlife in watercourses.
The drought permits are intended to apply until March 31, 2023, Yorkshire Water said.
The Bradford-based water company is now waiting for approval from the Environment Agency.
The drought permits would see a major change to how many megalitres of water - a metric unit equal to a million litres – should be released from reservoirs in the Wharfe, Aire and Worth river valleys in order to maintain the flow of water to rivers and becks.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: “Yorkshire Water is applying to the Environment Agency for a number of drought permits for reservoirs in North West Yorkshire – including reservoirs in the Worth Valley and further afield towards Bingley and Skipton, which will help us protect drinking water supplies and the environment.
“Currently, some reservoirs are required to provide a compensation flow, which means they release some of the water they hold into local watercourses to keep them flowing.
“The drought permit application would allow Yorkshire Water to protect reservoir stocks and the environment by reducing the amount of water released, therefore maintaining flows to watercourses for as long as possible.”
Which reservoirs in Yorkshire are affected?
Under the proposal, Leeming Reservoir would see its current continuous discharge of no less than 4.00 megalitres per day more than halved to 1.33 megalitres. This is in the instance when Leeming is either above or below the control lines, and Leeshaw Reservoir is above the control lines.
A discharge of 5.250 megalitres - when Leeming is above its control line and Leeshaw is below control lines – could be changed to 2.62 megalitres of discharged water.
Approximately 3.250 megalitres would normally be discharged when both the Leeshaw and Leeming reservoir levels are below their control lines – this could change to 1.083 megalitres.
These are part of Yorkshire Water’s measures laid out in its Drought Plan for 2022.
A maintained flow at Springhead Weir would see its stocks reduced when regional stocks are approaching the drought control line.
Over at Doe Park Reservoir, the usual compensation release downstream to Denholme Beck would be reduced by 0.6 megalitres if regional reservoir stocks were reduced for four consecutive weeks or more.
Yorkshire Water has also proposed a varying compensation release between 3.15 megalitres and 2.10 megalitres at Hewenden Reservoir. That measure would be based on the region’s reservoir stocks following a drought for four weeks or more.
In that same set of circumstances, Eldwick Reservoir’s usual compensation release would be halved.
Meanwhile Reva Reservoir – which usually compensates Hawksworth Beck – would be reduced from its usual 174,000 gallons – or 0.791 megalitres - per day.
Instead it would see a compensation release of 0.396 megalitres and a further reduction to 0.264 megalitres if regional reservoir stocks were below the regional drought control line for four weeks or more.
Weecher Reservoir – which usually supplies at least 110,273 gallons per working day to Weecher Brow Beck – would have its compensation release reduced to 0.215 megalitres. There would be further compensation release reductions in the instance of a drought.
Silsden Reservoir would see its prescribed flow of 2.409 megalitres to Silsden Beck reduced to 1.20 megalitres. Further restrictions would also be introduced in the instance of a drought.
Embsay Reservoir, which supplies Embsay Beck and Mill Beck through its compensation releases, would also see reductions and drought measures put in place.
Grimwith Reservoir – which compensates the River Dibb, part of the flow into the River Wharfe – would see a number of varying compensation releases introduced as well as drought measures similar to those listed above.
Carr Bottom Reservoir, which supplies water to the Burley-in-Wharfedale area, would see daily compensation release reductions from 00.85 megalitres to 0.0425 megalitres, or 0.028 megalitres in droughts.
In the public notice, Yorkshire Water said: “The anticipated effect of the proposed drought permits, if granted, will be to reduce the rate of draw down on reservoirs in the Wharfe, Aire and Worth Valley area catchments. 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.”
It added: “Yorkshire Water, in consultation with the Environment Agency, has carried out an assessment of the potential environmental impacts resulting from each of the drought permits. This includes an environmental monitoring plan and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts on the downstream economy.”
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