A water company has been given permission to take supplies from a river.
The Environment Agency has granted a drought permit to Southern Water to help it maintain services to customers.
It allows the company to draw water from the Western Rother at Pulborough and will help protect supplies to north Sussex.
The move is a precautionary measure to ensure water can be taken from the river if the region experiences another dry autumn and winter.
Exceptionally low rainfall since last November has left river and underground water levels well below average.
Meyrick Gough, Southern Water water planning and strategy manager, said: "September was another dry month.
"The region received just over half the normal amount of rainfall for the month.
"We need 25 per cent above normal levels every month until March to allow water sources to fill.
"If we experience another dry autumn, the permit means we will be able to continue using water from the Western Rother."
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