Thames Water is planning to take more water from the River Thames and pump it into its dwindling Oxfordshire reservoir.
Farmoor Reservoir, between Eynsham and Cumnor, is currently 76 per cent full, which is below average for the time of year, according to Thames Water.
The utility says Oxfordshire, parts of Wiltshire around Swindon, and parts of Gloucestershire around Cirencester are suffering from a serious water shortage because there has been exceptionally little rain.
Indeed, Oxfordshire has been in drought since late and has had a hosepipe ban since July 23.
The extra water would be pumped into Farmoor Reservoir. This would slow the fall in reservoir levels and help protect water supplies for homes and businesses over the longer term.
However, taking more water from the Thames would reduce the river’s flow downstream of Farmoor.
Thames Water says it does not expect this to harm other people or organisations that take water from the river.
It has carried out environmental assessments with the Environment Agency and has agreed a monitoring programme with the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The monitoring will look at river flow, protected areas and habitats, water quality, wildlife and the wider river ecology and the possible spread or effects of invasive species.
If monitoring shows that the environment is being harmed, Thames Water says it will take action.
This could include pumping water into vulnerable watercourses and rescuing fish if necessary.
A consultation has been launched on this, with people able to see the plans in more detail at Farmoor Fishery and the Environment Agency’s office at Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford.
Thames Water said: "We're applying for a drought permit relating to our Farmoor abstraction, near Oxford.
"Weather conditions have been exceptionally dry during 2026. This has resulted in lower river flows and reduced water available for abstraction. Reservoir storage levels are also declining.
"The proposed permit would make a temporary change to our abstraction licence. This will help maintain resilient public water supplies while drought conditions continue.
"Any permit granted would be temporary and subject to conditions set by regulators.
"The application is open for consultation until 23 September 2026."
A drought permit is a temporary permission from the Environment Agency for water companies.
It changes or suspends the conditions of the utility's abstraction licences, allowing it to take extra water from the environment.
There is no official end date set for the hosepipe ban, but last year's hosepipe ban - which was started on July 22 - wasn't lifted until November 27.
Households risk a £1,000 fine if they are caught using their hosepipe during a ban, unless exempt under certain circumstances.
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