Dorset Estate Over Water Limit, Expresses Regret, Pays £28,000

Okay, so this estate in Dorset messed up. They took too much water from the River Frome, and apparently, they didn’t follow their water licence. That’s not good.

Ilchester Estates said they regret what happened and now monitor their daily water usage. They also fixed leaky pipes to conserve water and emphasized their commitment to protecting nature.

Between 2022 and 2023, they exceeded their water limit by almost 7,500 cubic meters, roughly equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools, even though their allowable daily limit was only 66.6 cubic meters. This occurred while the area was experiencing a drought.

The total penalty amounted to about £28,000, including the penalty and the Environment Agency’s expenses. They source water from a spring to supply houses, offices, and farms and pay £120 annually for the water license. Afterward, the estate bills residents for their water consumption.

The Agency had previously cautioned them about excessive water usage. In 2018, they were advised on how to request additional water, but the estate pledged to reduce consumption instead. However, they continued to exceed their permitted allowance until 2023.

The Dorset Frome is a special chalk stream designated as a “Flagship” stream by Wessex Water. These streams are rare, teeming with wildlife, and predominantly found in the UK.