Rainfall over East Surrey hits expected average for the first time in a year (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Rainfall over East Surrey hits expected average for the first time in a year

1:52pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Local News

Water bosses have hailed last month's wet weather as good news after it yielded the expected average rainfall for the first time in a year.

Sutton and East Surrey Water said a total of 63mm or 2.5in of rain fell in its supply area in September - 99% per cent of the monthly average and almost bang on the button.

The company said its main surface reservoir at Bough Beech, near Edenbridge in Kent, is 64% full, which is nine per cent above average. Mike Hegarty, Sutton and East Surrey Water’s operations director, said: “Hopefully this average rainfall signals a return to more normal weather patterns.“ The return to average rainfall follows an abnormally dry autumn and winter, which led to a drought being announced at the beginning of April. This was followed though by torrential rain in April, June and July, which ended the drought in Sutton and East Surrey Water’s supply area.

The underground aquifers from which the company draws 85% of its supplies began to recover as the country was soaked by its wettest summer for 100 years.

Mr Hegarty cautioned though: “We ask customers to please continue to use water with care. It is a precious resource.”

Customers are asked to call 01737 772000 if they believe they have discovered a leak.

Sutton and East Surrey Water supplies water to more than 650,000 people in East Surrey and parts of West Sussex, west Kent and south London.