After amber rain and wind warnings hit Sussex, Ardingly Reservoir has risen by 1.8 percent but concerns continue as levels may be zero in December.

With the UK’s wet weather season now under way, many residents in surrounding towns are hoping for the period of prolonged dry weather to end and the Sussex drought to lift.

Therefore, many remained hopeful as Storm Austen and Boelo tore through Sussex with amber high winds and down pour.

As a result, on Sunday October 25, Ardingly Reservoir rose to 18.8 percent full- a 1.8 percent rise from the previous recording.

Ardingly Reservoir stores roughly 4.77 to 8.3 billion litres of water (part of South East Water's primary supply network | Eddie Mitchell

placeholder image — Ardingly Reservoir stores roughly 4.77 to 8.3 billion litres of water (part of South East Water's primary supply network | Eddie Mitchell

This follows the extension of a drought permit granted to South East Water by the Environment Agency (EA), cutting water releases from Ardingly Reservoir into the River Ouse after capacity dropped to a 'critically low' 17 per cent.

Operating as a standalone cornerstone of Mid Sussex’s supply infrastructure, the reservoir serves three main purposes; providing drinking water, regulating River Ouse water flows, and helping to prevent local flooding.

These purposes have proven difficult to uphold after a drought situation was declared after months of no rainfall.

According to Aubrey Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent at The Times, ministers have been holding emergency Cobra meetings over the region's drought status.

In a post on X, Allegretti reported that officials have been meeting up to twice a week as a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ is prepared following warnings that several English reservoirs could fall to zero per cent capacity within weeks. These include Ardingly Reservoir, alongside Wimbleball in Somerset.

With dry weather forecasted to continue for the following weeks, South East Water were approached for a comment regarding ‘day zero’ monitoring.

Nick Price, Head of Water Resources at South East Water, said: " The measures we are taking to conserve water and recent rainfall has helped maintain river flows and increase water levels within the reservoir.

“Weather forecasts for the coming days are predicting a return to drier conditions, so we will continue to closely monitor and take action to protect customer supplies.

"I would like to thank all our customers for their continued water-saving efforts."

The water company clarified that they are continuing to look at a range of options for greater regional resilience.