Although many have seen a wet start to the year, a water supply giant has been granted a drought permit after reporting exceptionally low water levels.

The Environment Agency has given the go ahead to fill Bewl water, a reservoir in Lamberhurst, from the River Medway with levels lower than the previous limit.

Southern Water made the application on January 5 in the hopes of securing supplies for the summer.

Bewl provides water to hundreds of thousands of people across Kent and Sussex.

Despite a rainy December and January, the reservoir was left only 42% full after a dry autumn and lower than average rainfall across south east England during the previous winter.

The 31,000 megalitre Bewl reservoir should be an average of 88% full.

Julie Foley, Environment Agency area director, said: “Although it has been wet over the past few weeks, overall this winter across south east England there has been lower than average amounts of rain. Consequently, we now need above average rainfall for the remainder of the winter to replenish our water resources.

“The Environment Agency has to balance the water needs of people, businesses and wildlife so we have carefully considered Southern Water’s application. We have decided to grant this temporary change, helping the company to refill the reservoir at a time of year when there will be less impact on the environment.

The agency will also be monitoring the effects of the change and taking any necessary action to ensure environmental protection.

It is also encouraging people to follow advice from water companies about saving water.

Southern Water last applied for a drought permit was in February 2012, when the reservoir was 41% full.

The permit allows the firm to take more water from rivers, under certain conditions and were granted in 2004 and 2005