Within the Kennet catchment there are over-abstraction issues which leave the river without enough water to support a healthy ecosystem.
For over 20 years there has been local concern that flows in the Upper Kennet above Marlborough have been affected by over-abstraction. There have been several abstraction studies in the catchment driven by the Habitats Directive (HD), the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme (RSA), and the production of the Kennet and Pang Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS).
Axford and the upper Kennet
A breakthrough came in 2014 when the Environment Agency issued a notice reducing the permitted abstraction from Axford and revoking the abstraction licence on the little River Og. Thames Water has now built a new pipeline, which provides an alternative water source for Swindon when river levels in the Kennet are low. When flow measured at the Knighton Gauging Station drops below 100 M/l d, abstraction at Axford must be reduced. As part of the same work, the abstraction point on the River Og is now only used in emergencies. These abstraction reductions began in 2017 and are designed to improve flows below Axford to support ‘good ecological status’.
The West Berkshire Groundwater Scheme (an Environment Agency responsibility) supplies water to the Letcombe Brook and provides mitigation for the impacts of the Enborne wellfield under very dry conditions.
Actions
An investigation into the impacts of abstraction from the Upper Kennet boreholes, owned by Thames Water and Wessex Water was completed in 2025 as part of Thames Water’s Water Industry National Environment Programme. The result of this study has led to proposed investment in low flow mitigation projects in the upper Kennet from 2015-203o as well as further study.
Action for the River Kennet run an outreach programme for young people with a focus on the importance of water as a precious resource.