Drone Rules for Abberton Reservoir

Landowner Policy & Site Rules

• Anglian Water strictly prohibits visitors from taking off, landing, or operating drones anywhere within the Alton Water park boundary.
• This is a blanket private property policy enforced across all Anglian Water recreational sites to protect the general public, wildlife habitats, and privacy.
• Operating a drone from the ground here without explicit authorization constitutes trespassing on operational utility land.

Strategic Priority & Infrastructure

• Alton Water is a critical component of the regional water supply infrastructure for East Suffolk, operating under strict asset protection guidelines.
• Due to the sensitive nature of the open water supply and surrounding utility infrastructure, unauthorized operations are heavily monitored by on-site management and local security.

Operational Security Protocols

• Regular land and perimeter patrols are conducted by Anglian Water park rangers and site staff.
• Any unauthorized drone operators detected on the ground will be approached, instructed to land immediately, and asked to leave the premises.
• Incidents involving persistent unauthorized activity or safety breaches over crowded public visitor areas may be reported to local law enforcement for further action.

Permissions & Commercial Exceptions

• Recreational drone flight is entirely unavailable to the general public.
• Exceptions are only made for professional, commercial, or scientific drone operations (e.g., structural asset inspections or environmental surveys).
• Commercial operators must secure formal written permission directly from Anglian Water Services Ltd well in advance, present a valid CAA operational authorization, and provide proof of comprehensive commercial public liability insurance.