The Southern Water Services Limited (Weir Wood Reservoir) (Drought) Order 2005

the Secretary of State is satisfied that, by reason of an exceptional shortage of rain, a serious deficiency of supplies of water is threatened in the supply area of Southern Water Services Limited (“the Applicant”) to the north of the South Downs from near Petersfield in the west, to Steyning in the east, and Horsham and Crawley to the north (“the area”);

an application has been made by the Applicant under section 73(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991 (“the Act”)1;

the Secretary of State is satisfied in accordance with paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 8 to the Act that the proper notices have been published and served by the Applicant in accordance with paragraph 1 of that Schedule;

certain objections to the application have been made to the Secretary of State;

in accordance with paragraph 2 of that Schedule, an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose has been afforded to the objectors, the Applicant and other persons to whom it appeared to the Secretary of State expedient to afford such an opportunity; and

it appears to the Secretary of State expedient, with a view to meeting the deficiency of supplies of public water in the area, to modify the requirements to which the Applicant is subject as respects the discharge of water from Weir Wood Reservoir to the River Medway;