Drone Rules for Blithfield Reservoir

Landowner Policy & Site Rules

• Drone operations—including launching, landing, or operating on the ground—are strictly prohibited across the Blithfield Reservoir site without formal authorization.
• The reservoir estate, including its shoreline, walkways, and visitor parking, is private property owned and managed by South Staffs Water.
• Operating a drone from the ground here without explicit prior consent from the water utility or site management team constitutes trespassing on private operational utility land.

Strategic Priority & Infrastructure

• Blithfield Reservoir is a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) asset covering over 790 acres, serving as a primary drinking water supply for Staffordshire.
• A significant portion of the water body and surrounding woodland is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), managed in partnership with the West Midland Bird Club (WMBC).
• Due to the strict security requirements surrounding public water supplies and the critical importance of protecting sensitive habitats for wintering and breeding wildfowl, unauthorized activity on the ground is prohibited.

Operational Security Protocols

• Active monitoring and land patrols are carried out across the estate by South Staffs Water wardens, bird club rangers, and estate staff.
• Any unauthorized drone operators identified operating from the ground will be approached, instructed to safely land their aircraft immediately, and required to leave the property.
• Safety infractions or persistent non-compliance near operational works or protected bird hides will be reported to local authorities.

Permissions & Exceptions

• Ground permissions are entirely unavailable for all recreational, hobbyist, or casual drone flyers.
• Exceptions are strictly reserved for essential utility maintenance inspections, authorized environmental survey work, or contracted engineering teams.
• Professional pilots requiring access must contact South Staffs Water directly to secure formal written permission, submit a detailed flight plan, and provide proof of a valid CAA operational authorization alongside comprehensive commercial public liability insurance.