Sutton Council has warned that drought restrictions will prevent operators from continuing to top up water levels at Carshalton Ponds, which are currently experiencing a leak. The council expects water levels to fall significantly in the coming days and admitted it now “cannot confirm how long until or when the pond will be fixed”. The latest warning follows the council’s announcement last month that a leak in the upper pond near Honeywood Museum was causing water to escape, raising concerns among residents about the impact on local wildlife.
Ongoing Leak and Drought Restrictions
Posting on its Facebook page earlier this week, Sutton Council said: “We have been doing a lot of work to fix some of the problems at Carshalton Ponds. Unfortunately, we have now found more issues and the ponds continue to lose water.” The council has cited ongoing drought restrictions, brought on by successive heatwaves, as the reason water operator SES Water can no longer continue topping up the pond to compensate for the leak.
The council added: “Due to the severe hot weather, we expect the water levels to drop quite significantly over the coming days.” The council also acknowledged the potential impact on local wildlife, saying it is doing all it can to minimise the effects. However, it said it could not currently confirm “how long until or when the pond will be fixed”. The council said it is “currently seeking specialist advice and support on the next steps” it should take. “We know the ponds are well-loved and we are working to find a long-term resolution,” it added.
Residents Express Concerns
The update drew a response from residents online, who raised concerns over the ongoing water loss and environmental impact. One 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.” Mr Wilkerson said it was understandable that the council was seeking specialist advice, but asked what immediate measures were being considered to protect wildlife.
He said that if SES Water could no longer top up the ponds because of drought restrictions, “there needs to be a clear contingency plan for the animals and wider ecosystem that depend on them”. He added: “We appreciate that finding a permanent solution may take time, but wildlife cannot wait indefinitely for that solution.” “Carshalton Ponds are not simply a water feature — they are a valuable local habitat and an important part of our community,” he added.
Another Facebook user named Dominique said they were “keen to understand what plans/mitigations you (the council) are putting into place to reduce the impact on the wildlife”. They added: “You state yourselves this will have an impact and are doing all you can to minimise this. What will you be doing?”
Previous Repair Efforts and Future Outlook
Last month, the council announced that the upper pond had been drained to allow repair work to take place, with contractors beginning work on Monday, July 13. It said the repairs were needed to restore water levels and that SES Water would fill the pond again once the work was completed. At the time, the council said: “The work will be carried out as quickly as possible, so that water levels can be restored.” It also said: “We know these inconsistent levels of water are making it difficult for our local wildlife, and we are working hard to complete these repairs swiftly to get things back to normal for everyone and, most importantly, the wildlife.”
The council also thanked the local community and animal rescue charities who helped to keep wildlife safe during the earlier situation. In its latest statement it committed to providing an update “as soon as we can”. The council is currently seeking specialist advice on next steps, and residents are awaiting further information on immediate measures to protect wildlife.
