Wimbleball Lake
Reservoir in EnglandWikipedia
5
MENTIONS
3
EPISODES
3
PODCASTS
Search complete. 5 mentions across 3 episodes found for "Wimbleball Lake".
Oct 7, 2026
Ellen WilesHOST
Why storing water for drinking isn't as straightforward as it may seem.
Ellen WilesHOST
I'm down on the foothills of Exmoor now looking out at Wimbleball Reservoir.
Ellen WilesHOST
There are kayakers and ducks paddling about.
Ellen WilesHOST
We're surrounded by greenery.
Ellen WilesHOST
It's a serene picture postcard kind of scene and it looks just like a natural lake.
Ellen WilesHOST
Except it isn't.
Ellen WilesHOST
Wimbleball is a water supply facility and it was dug out and built back in 1979 and now supplies drinking water to support around half a million people across East Devon and Somerset.
Ellen WilesHOST
And gazing across it now, you wouldn't necessarily guess how much water it holds.
Chris AldridgeHOST
The average for this time of year is about three quarters.
Chris AldridgeHOST
Storage levels at Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset are at just over a fifth of capacity.
Chris AldridgeHOST
Ministers have acknowledged resources are stretched and say water companies must take every step to prevent disruption to customer supplies.
Chris AldridgeHOST
A notebook belonging to Freddie Mercury, which contained handwritten lyrics and notes from the Mr Bad Guy recording sessions, has sold for more than £277,000.
speaker_1NARRATOR
The news coincides with plans announced by the Environment Agency to relax abstraction rules for some farmers following what has been the driest summer since records began in 1884.
speaker_1NARRATOR
The Environment Agency said it would currently expect England's overall reservoir storage to be almost three-quarters full, but because of this year's drought, more, most are less than half full, with concerns for Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset that are only 23 and 21% full respectively.
speaker_1NARRATOR
The updated statistics come after Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Defra Secretary Dame Angela Eagle both made clear this week that water is a priority area for the government.
speaker_1NARRATOR
Water Minister Emma Hardy said, "This is further evidence that fundamental reform is needed to make the water sector deliver for the public interest.