Thames Water granted a temporary drought permit

Farmoor Reservoir On 17 September Thames Water applied for a drought permit for its Farmoor abstraction which supports Farmoor Reservoir, in west Oxford. The permit will allow Thames Water to abstract additional water from the River Thames at Farmoor to help replenish reservoir levels.

Alongside public consultation of the application, a thorough assessment has been carried out by technical teams to ensure that any impacts have been identified, assessed, and where required, mitigated. Following the consultation and assessment we granted the permit on 29 September.

The permit will support drought resilience and help maintain essential water supplies for homes, businesses, and communities across Swindon and Oxfordshire.

Protecting the environment remains a priority. As part of the permit conditions, Thames Water must ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to minimise any effects on the local ecosystem. Throughout the permit period, Thames Water will monitor river flows, water quality, and ecological conditions, particularly in the ecologically valuable watercourses that run through and around Oxford. This will ensure the environment is protected, while vital water supplies are secured.

You can find out more here Farmoor Reservoir drought permit FAQs.