Groundwater levels

What is groundwater?

Simply put, groundwater is water that is stored beneath the ground. When it rains, water soaks through the ground, permeating through soil and rock. There it is stored underground in a layer of porous rock or sediment - known as an aquifer.

How do we measure groundwater?

We receive updates from the Environment Agency and compile the data from readings taken at our indicator boreholes.

Groundwater is measured in Metres Above Ordnance Datum (mAOD). mAOD is based on the mean sea level at Newlyn in Cornwall and is used as the reference point to calculate height above sea level in the UK.

The graphs below show the latest groundwater levels compared to previous years. The red, orange and yellow lines show how the actual levels compare to what's considered as exceptionally or notably low.

What are our main water sources?

70% groundwater

As rain soaks through the ground it is stored in 'aquifers'. We pump this water (groundwater) to the surface where it is treated and supplied to you.

23% rivers

We take water from rivers to fill our reservoirs, or to pump directly to water treatment works for supply. More than 15% of the water we take from rivers comes from recycled water which has been cleaned at our wastewater treatment works and released into the river.

7% reservoirs

We have four reservoirs, the largest is Bewl Water on the Kent/Sussex border, followed by Weir Wood, Darwell and Powdermill in Sussex.

Drought triggers

The drought status in any area is based on several factors including historic rainfall, groundwater and reservoir levels. If a groundwater drought trigger level is met this does not necessarily mean the overall drought status has changed.

Drought trigger curves are based on those in our current Drought Plan.