Water Situation Reports
2025
October 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had above average rainfall in October, receiving 116% (116.9mm) of the long term average (LTA) of 100.5mm. Monthly mean river flows for October ranged from below normal to normal across SSD. End of month groundwater levels for October ranged from exceptionally low to above normal. Soils across SSD ended the month wetter than the LTA for October.
fThe full report can be read in the Water Situation Report for October 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to March 2026 for October is available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to March for October 2026
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
September 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had below average rainfall in September, receiving 153% (100.9mm) of the long term average (LTA) of 66.15mm. Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from below normal to notably high. The end of month groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally low to above normal. Soils across SSD ended the month drier than the average for September. End of month reservoir stocks were below average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report for September 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to March 2026 for September is available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to March 2026
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
August 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had below average rainfall total in August, receiving 61% (41mm) of the long term average (LTA) of 66mm. Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from notably low to normal. The end of month groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally low to above normal. Soils across SSD ended the month drier than the average for August. End of month reservoir stocks were below average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report for August 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to March 2026 for August is available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to March 2026
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
July 2025 Overview
Test & Itchen – Paul Vignaux, Director. Please note that whilst the rainfall was slightly above normal for July, the drought conditions continue. It should be noted that most rain during a drought is immediately taken up by plant transpiration and so there is less groundwater recharge than normal. The flow rates for rivers continue to fall.
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had average rainfall total in July, receiving 109% (60.1mm) of the long-term average (LTA) of 55.3mm. Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from notably low to above normal. The end of month groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally low to above normal. Soils across SSD ended the month much drier than the average for July. End of month reservoir stocks were below average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report July 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to September 2025 from MAY 2025 are available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to September 2025
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
June 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had below average rainfall in June, receiving 65% (36mm) of the long-term average (LTA) of 56mm. Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from exceptionally low to normal and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally low to above normal. Soils across SSD ended the month much drier than the average for June. End of month reservoir stocks were below average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report June 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to September 2025 from MAY 2025 are available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to September 2025
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
May 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had below average rainfall in May, receiving 47% (24mm) of the long-term average (LTA of 52mm). Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from exceptionally low to normal and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally low to notably high. Soils across SSD ended the month much drier than the average for May. End of month reservoir stocks were below average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report May 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to September 2025 from MAY 2025 are available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to September 2025
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
April 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had below average rainfall in April, receiving 49% (26.4mm) of the LTA (53.9mm). Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from notably low to above normal and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from notably low to notably high. Soils across SSD ended the month drier than the average for April. End of month reservoir stocks were above average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and were below average at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report April 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to September 2025 from April 2025 are available in the Water Situation Forward Look for SSD to September 2025
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
March 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had well below average rainfall in March, receiving 12% (8mm) of the LTA (67mm). Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from notably low to notably high and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from below normal to notably high. Soils across SSD ended the month drier than the average for March. End of month reservoir stock was above average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and was close to average at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report March 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to September 2025 from March 2025 are available in the Water Situation Forward Look March to September 2025
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
February 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had average rainfall in February, receiving 112% (65mm) of the LTA (58mm). Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from normal to above normal and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from normal to notably high. Soils across SSD ended the month wetter than the average for February. End of month reservoir stock was above average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and was close to average at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report February 2025
January 2025 Overview
Solent and South Downs (SSD) had above average rainfall in January, receiving 146% (127mm) of the LTA (87.3mm). Monthly mean river flows across SSD ranged from normal to notably high and the end of month groundwater levels ranged from normal to exceptionally high. Soils across SSD ended the month wetter than the average for January. End of month reservoir stock was above average at Ardingly Reservoir (Ouse) and was below average at Arlington Reservoir (Cuckmere).
The full report can be read in the Water Situation Report January 2025
Water Situation Forward Look
The Environment Agency’s river flow and projected groundwater levels for the period up to March 2025 are available in this report Water Situation Report forward look to March 2025.
Members can find historic water situation reports in the Members Area Water Situation Reports Archive.
