TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious deficiency of water supplies in the Kent Medway, Kent Thanet and Sussex Hastings water supply areas, caused by an exceptional shortage of rainfall, Southern Water Services Limited (“Southern Water”) of Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3NX, is applying to the Environment Agency for a drought permit under Section 79A of the Water Resources Act 1991.

Southern Water is licensed to abstract water from the River Teise at Smallbridge, the River Medway at Yalding and Springfield, and at Bewl Water Reservoir, under Licence 02/114 dated 22 November 2017 (“the Licence”). Under the terms of the Licence, Southern Water is allowed to abstract a maximum quantity of 250 Mega litres per day (Ml/d) at Yalding in subject to Minimum Residual Flows of 200 Ml/d January, 250Ml/d in February and 275 Ml/d in March and April and 137 Ml/d at Springfield subject to a Minimum Residual Flow (“MRF”) of 275 Ml/d as measured at Teston weir.

The proposed drought permit will involve an amendment to the Licence to reduce the MRF to 150 Ml/d until 31 March 2018. The proposed drought permit, if granted, will allow Southern Water to continue to abstract water at the lower MRF in the River Medway.

To the extent that dissolved oxygen levels in the water may fall below the licence threshold as a result of the permit abstraction will cease and mitigation begin,

If granted the permit will assist in the refill of Bewl Water Reservoir, which is currently depleted. The refill of Bewl Water Reservoir is necessary to secure the supplies of water made available to the public.

The permit will be decrease the rate of drawdown in Bewl Water reservoir and assist with its refill. The Company has carried out a comprehensive environmental assessment. Potential negative effects will be mitigated by an Environmental Action Plan and appropriate conditions in the drought permit by the Environment Agency, after consultation with Natural England and other affected parties.

From Friday 5th January 2018, anyone may inspect the proposals, free of charge, at the offices of: Southern Water at Southern House, Capstone Road, Chatham, Kent, ME5 7QA; or at Southern House Yeoman Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3NX; or at the Environment Agency at Orchard House, Endeavour Park, London Road, Addington, West Malling, Kent, ME19 5SH, between the hours of 10:00 am. and 4:00 pm., Monday to Friday; or at The Sailing Club at Bewl Water Reservoir, near Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JH, between the hours 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday or 9:00 am to 4:45 pm Saturday and Sunday; or Kent History And Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone Kent ME14 1LQ between the hours of 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and between the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday.

Objections may be made in writing to the Environment Agency at WR Permitting Support Centre, Quadrant Two, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF or by email to PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk, stating the grounds of the objection and giving an address or email address to which correspondence relating to the objection may be sent. The Environment Agency will pass to the applicant a copy of any objection it receives. Objections should be made immediately and, in any event, by the 12th January.

J Statton, Company Secretary, Southern Water Services Ltd.

Dated 5th January 2018