Water abstraction and reservoir use

At a few of the larger shingle sites the hydrology of the system can be an important consideration. Water abstraction can lead to lowering of the water table and saline water intrusion. This is an issue at only one site in the UK, Dungeness where water is obtained from the shingle aquifer for domestic purposes. The aquifer was first used to supply water to Littlestone-on-Sea at the end of the nineteenth century. Abstraction has continued ever since and rates have increased substantially in the last 50 years leading to saline water intrusion at the site (Annex 05). The abstraction licence was reduced to 3300Ml/annum and a management regime incorporated, following the recognition that these problems threatened the drinking water resource.