Sutton Council has admitted it does not know why Carshalton Ponds drained overnight on October 16, causing water levels to drop significantly. The council is now seeking specialist advice to establish the cause of the sudden drop, raising fresh concerns about the ponds’ recurring water loss problems.
Council acknowledges sudden drop after resident alarm
The council first acknowledged the drop in water levels on October 17, after residents woke to discover that the ponds had drained dramatically overnight. The update followed days of ongoing speculation and concern among Carshalton residents about the reason for the sudden drop.
The administrator of the popular Carshalton Stories Facebook group remarked: “Walking my son to school this morning I was even more shocked than yesterday, the River Wandle is now draining away! I’ve never seen it so bad, seems to be worse than the summer with the river being affected.”
Drought restrictions halt historical top-ups
In its update, Sutton Council noted that SES Water has historically topped up water levels when the seasonal springs that feed the ponds run dry. However, the council said this stopped late last week due to the tighter water-use restrictions introduced after the Government announced severe drought in parts of the UK.
Despite the suspension of these top-ups, Sutton said the ponds would not normally be expected to lose water as dramatically or as quickly as they did on October 16. “We do not know why this happened and we are currently seeking specialist advice as to the cause,” the council admitted. It said a contractor would be on site later that week to begin initial investigative work.
Recurring leak repairs and wildlife worries
This latest incident follows repairs to an ongoing leak near Honeywood Museum and The Greyhound pub, which required the upper pond to be drained in July. However, drought restrictions meant that ongoing pumping to refill the pond could not continue.
In its recent announcement, the council added: “Protecting the ponds and local wildlife is a key priority, and we are monitoring the site closely to keep any disruption to a minimum. We know the ponds are well-loved and we want to thank local residents who alerted us to the issue at the weekend. We will continue to work hard to find a long-term resolution to stop the ponds from losing water and we will provide a further update as soon as we have more information.”
The latest drop in water levels has also raised concerns among residents about the potential impact on local wildlife and surrounding waterways. Some warned that receding water could leave wildlife more vulnerable to predators and disrupt food sources, while others voiced frustration over the recurring problems at the ponds.
Reacting to the drop in water levels earlier this summer, Facebook user Jason Wilkerson said: “The ponds are an important habitat for ducks, fish, birds, insects and other wildlife, and a significant reduction in water levels during this extreme heat could have serious consequences.”
