Wimbleball in crisis as reservoir drying up, but water company won't answer questions

WATER supplies in the giant Wimbleball Reservoir, on Exmoor, have fallen to an unprecedented low of a little over 10 per cent full.

But, despite the critical situation facing the reservoir, the third largest in the Westcountry, South West Water (SWW) has refused to answer questions about the crisis.

The Free Press put a series of questions to SWW - twice - but it twice refused to respond directly, and instead provided copies of generic press statements which it issued some weeks ago.

SWW claimed the statements were evidence that it was not dodging questions by the Free Press.

The company, which shares the reservoir with Wessex Water, has been granted a drought permit at Wimbleball and has also applied for an order banning non-essential water use by businesses which would cover activities such as watering on commercial premises and vehicle washing.

Hosepipe bans are still in place for both SWW and Wessex Water customers, the latter being the first time in 50 years.

The heavy rain which fell across Exmoor during the two weekend storms Austen and Boelo are expected to help the reservoir.

But Wimbleball is still the lowest it has been since it was opened 47 years ago.

Exmoor farmer and Conservative campaigner James Wright called on SWW and the Government to ‘explore every available option’ to protect homes and businesses following the driest April to September in more than a century.

Mr Wright said: “People in Minehead, Tiverton, and every village in between are doing their bit to save water, and they deserve to know the water companies are doing theirs.

“I have spoken to Wessex Water and made clear that every option must be on the table, from sources such as Nutscale, to moving more water around the network, to fixing every leak possible.

“Where an option has been ruled out, the public should be told why, and what is being done instead.

“Our farmers, hotels, cafés, and campsites cannot plan around guesswork.

“As a farmer on Exmoor I know what a dry year does to a business, and with no guarantee of a wet winter we cannot simply wait and hope the rain arrives in time.”

Mr Wright said Wessex Water’s drought plans include taking water from Nutscale reservoir on Exmoor, which no longer supplies drinking water.

However, the company said it could take six months to arrange and the reservoir would have to meet drinking water standards.

Wimbleball and Clatworthy Reservoir, on the Brendon Hills are among 11 reservoirs in England which the Environment Agency has listed as exceptionally low.

The Environment Agency said recovery would need 120 per cent of typical rainfall over the next six months, and warned the drought could last into next spring.

Emergency work to protect public water supplies has seen Haddon Hill car park, overlooking Wimbleball, closed until November 3 to allow Wessex Water to install a temporary over-pumping system to connect to the Maundown water treatment centre, near Wiveliscombe.

This work was required to ensure the treatment centre could continue supplying drinking water across Somerset.