Introductory text

WATER RESOURCES, ENGLAND

Made 2nd December 2025

Coming into force 3rd December 2025

South East Water Limited (“the Company”) has made an application for an ordinary drought order under section 73(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991^f1 (“the Act”).

The Secretary of State is satisfied that proper notices of the application have been published and served by the Company in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the Act^f2 and no objections to the application have been made.

In accordance with section 73(1) of the Act^f3, the Secretary of State is also satisfied that, by reason of an exceptional shortage of rain, a serious deficiency of supplies of water is threatened in the Sussex region of the Company’s area of supply.

It appears to the Secretary of State expedient to make the provisions in this Order with a view to meeting this deficiency.

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the power conferred by sections 73(1) and 74(2)(f) and (5) of, and paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 8 to, the Act.

Annotations

Footnotes

f1: 1991 c. 57 (“the Act”). Section 73(3) of the Act was amended by paragraphs 128 and 139(3) of Schedule 22 to the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) and by S.I. 2013/755 (W. 90). For the meaning of “ordinary drought order” see section 73(1) of the Act.
f2: Paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the Act was amended by paragraph 128 of Schedule 22 to the Environment Act 1995 and paragraph 3(7) of Schedule 11 to the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19) and by S.I. 2010/675 and 2013/755 (W. 90).
f3: Section 73(1) of the Act was amended by paragraph 139(2) of Schedule 22 to the Environment Act 1995.