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Drought Watch
Drought Watch
Dr Martin Burton, Water Resources specialist at Upper Itchen Restoration CIC, has been monitoring rainfall after the drought we experienced in Summer 2025.
By comparing rainfall from September to May with previous years, Martin can predict the likelihood of a drought next year. Our chalk streams are fed by an underground aquifer, which is re-charged by winter rains. you can find Martin's monthly update here.
With climate breakdown, we are seeing lower rainfall punctuated by dramatic heavy rain events. This tends to increase run-off from fields and urban areas into rivers, with decreased re-charge of the aquifer.
Low flow in our chalk streams during drought impacts life in the river, as many chalk streams species depend on flowing, oxygenated water. It also has the effect of concentrating pollutants in the river. Our colleagues at Wildfish describe the year-on-year impact of water shortages on chalk streams.
Image Credit - BBC News
It is worth remembering that water is abstracted from the Itchen and its aquifer for drinking water, a major pressure on our sensitive ecosystem.
Martin's modelling is important because we all need to make adjustments for a future where water is becoming scarcer. Learning from criticism of late action in the 2022 drought, Southern Water took action earlier in 2025 and formed a Communications Group to increase public awareness of the drought and promote water saving. This shows the value of early prediction.
We all need to do what we can to reduce our water use - see our Publications page for some simple ideas everyone can do !
Micro-particulates in the Upper Itchen
In August 2024, we identified micro-particulates, including synthetic fibres and tyre wear particles, in the Alre and Candover.
We have now launched a project, working with Brighton University, to investigate this, with the aim of understanding the sources and pathways of this pollution.
We are grateful to Southern Water and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust for their funding which has made this work possible.
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