The Environment Agency has activated the Trent Witham Ancholme River Transfer Scheme to help secure water supplies for North Lincolnshire. The scheme, which has been operated by the Environment Agency since 1974, is a key piece of infrastructure for managing surface water resources across Lincolnshire.
The scheme supports over 100 abstraction licences held by various users, including water companies, farmers, and industrial abstractors who rely on water from the Rivers Ancholme and Witham. It transfers water between the River Trent, River Witham, and River Ancholme to help meet water demand. The scheme can pump 60 Olympic-sized pools of water daily if required.
Thomas Enright, an Environment Manager for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, stated that the agency is working to maintain river levels for people, wildlife, navigation, and agriculture. The Environment Agency is also monitoring conditions closely and will use regulatory powers to mitigate the impacts of dry weather.
In addition to managing water transfers, the Environment Agency has conducted fish rescue operations on the River Slea and at a Lincoln & District Angling Association stillwater. Further sites are being monitored, and the agency continues to respond to environmental pressures, including rising salinity levels on the Hob Hole and Lower Steeping River. Members of the public can report sightings of fish in distress to the Environment Agency incident hotline.
The Environment Agency is collaborating with farmers, growers, and water companies to promote sustainable water use during the dry weather. This includes implementing temporary limits on abstraction licences and facilitating water transfers between abstractors. Decisions regarding hosepipe bans remain the responsibility of individual water companies.