Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream

The River Test is home to endangered salmon and otters and a permitted drought order could mean water levels would fall below those deemed ecologically safe. Photograph: mauritius images GmbH/Alamy

Southern Water has applied for a drought order that would allow it to draw water from an internationally prized chalk stream and rare salmon habitat even if its levels fell below what is deemed ecologically safe.

The environment secretary, Steve Reed, has been urged to intervene and stop the water company from “significantly and potentially permanently damaging the river and the ecology within”.