Kent and South London water situation: June 2024 summary
Updated 12 July 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-situation-local-area-reports/kent-and-south-london-water-situation-june-2024-summary
1. Summary
The whole of the Kent and South London (KSL) area received 36% of the long term average (LTA) rainfall during June. Rainfall received across catchments in the area ranged from notably low to below normal. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) increased considerably in June due to the much lower effective rainfall received. Monthly mean flows (MMFs) ranged from notably low to exceptionally high. The majority of the key flow sites saw normal or above normal MMFs during June. Groundwater levels in the Chalk in June 2024 ranged from exceptionally high to above average for this time of the year. Groundwater levels continue to fall consistently across Kent and South London aquifers. Levels in all 5 reservoirs in KSL decreased in June.
2. Rainfall
The whole of the KSL area received 36% of the LTA rainfall during June. Rainfall received across catchments in the area ranged from notably low to below normal. Below normal rainfall was recorded across catchments in the centre and in Dover Chalk in the east of the patch. Notably low rainfall was recorded across all the other rainfall areas. The percentage of LTA rainfall received across catchments ranged from 43% across Dover Chalk rainfall area to 27% in the Lower Mole. The highest daily rainfall total of 20.1mm for June was recorded at Eynsford PS rain gauge in the Darent catchment on the 15 June. The next highest daily rainfall totals were on 14, 9, 6 and 22 June and ranged from 13.2mm to 7.3mm. In June, approximately 8 dry days where less than 0.2mm of rainfall was received were registered.
3. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
At the end of June, SMDs at all rainfall areas in KSL ranged between 78mm and 94mm. SMDs increased considerably in June due to the much lower effective rainfall received. Across the whole area, on average, effective rainfall received this month was low at 7% of the LTA. The difference in LTA in June was slightly higher for this time of year, ranging from 6mm to 25mm. This is due to significantly less rainfall.
4. River flows
In June MMFs ranged from notably low to exceptionally high. The majority of the key flow sites in the central south of the patch saw normal MMFs during June. Four flow sites saw above normal MMFs, one in the north-east, 2 in the north-east and one in the central south of the patch. Dour at Crabble recorded the highest MMF at 166% of the LTA for the month of June. Dour was the only flow site that was in the exceptionally high category. In contrast, Ravensbourne at Catford recorded the lowest MMF at 48% of the LTA, being the only flow site in the notably low category.
5. Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels ranged from exceptionally high to above average across the KSL area. All monitoring points but Chipstead recorded groundwater levels that were either notably high or exceptionally high, with Chipstead recording levels that for this time of the year (June 2024) are above average. Although levels in the Chalk remain exceptionally high in the east of the patch, and notably high in most of the west, levels continue to fall consistently across the area. This also applies to groundwater levels in the Greensand aquifer at Riverhead.
6. Reservoir stocks
At the end of June, reservoir levels were:
- normal at Bewl at 91%, Darwell at 83% and Powdermill at 81%
- above normal at Bough Beech at 86%
- notably high at Weir Wood at 97%
Levels in all 5 reservoirs in KSL decreased in June, although levels at Weir Wood had the least reduction.
7. Environmental impact
Hands off flow constraints were applied to certain licensed abstractions within the Upper Stour catchment.
Author: Groundwater and Hydrology Team, ksl.gwh@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact Details: 03708 506 506
All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.