The Environment Agency has issued a drought permit that will allow Yorkshire Water to reduce how much water is released from the Grimworth Reservoir to “top up” natural flows within the River Wharfe.

The permit allows them to extract additional water from the river at Lobwood, near Ilkley, and to reduce the amount it releases into the river from Grimwith Reservoir.

The permit was issued by the Environment Agency on Friday 22 August and will last until 22 February 2026.

It will help to reduce the pressure on reservoir stocks in the short-term, as well as enabling recharge and refill quicker through the autumn and winter months. This is to protect water supplies and the environment after an extremely dry year and the declaration of drought.

River flows and reservoir levels in Yorkshire c

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