The River Test
This graph shows recent flow data for the River Test during 2023–24. (Source: The Environment Agency)
River levels
View the river levels of the Test and Itchen in Hampshire.
Water supply
In some areas, like Hampshire, we rely on rivers for the water we supply to our customers. More recently, the pressures of more extreme weather events and a growing population are stretching these precious resources.
Further information on river flows can be found on the EA Hydrology Data Explorer and the National River Flow Archive.
Flow triggers
The flow triggers are used to give us warning of when we may be at risk of breaching our licence condition for our abstraction on the River Test (the ‘hands-off flow’ condition), which is when we must stop abstracting and are linked to the actions we must take to protect supplies as set out in our Drought Plan. Flows are currently well above these trigger thresholds.
In order to protect supplies to our customers and in accordance with our Drought Plan, we must apply for a drought permit to allow us to continue abstracting if flows fall below the hands off flow condition.
The ‘hands off flow’ on the River Itchen relates to the licence conditions for our abstractions on the River Itchen. As with the River Test, the flow triggers are used to give us advance warning of when we may be at risk of breaching our licence condition for our abstraction on the River Test (the ‘hands-off flow’ condition), which is when we must stop abstracting and are linked to actions we must take to protect supplies as set out in our Drought Plan. Flows are currently well above these trigger thresholds.
Protecting Hampshire's rivers
During 2019, new rules were introduced to protect the Rivers Test and Itchen by controlling when we could take water for our customers. As a result, Hampshire faces an increased risk of drought during dry weather.
