Two weeks left to have your say on how we meet the south east’s growing water supply challenge
As part of the Water Resources in the South East (WRSE) alliance, we’re keen to gather input from as many groups and organisations as possible as your views really will help shape the direction we take to keep taps flowing across the south east into the future.
The plan identifies actions that could be needed to avoid a potential one billion litre a day shortfall in water supplies across the south east in the next 15 years – that’s around a fifth of the total water currently provided each day by the six companies. This could rise to 2.6 billion litres a day by 2060.
To protect against this could require investment in the region of £8 billion by 2040, rising to £17 billion by 2060.
This is due to a range of issues including climate change, population growth, increasing resilience to drought, reducing reliance on sensitive water sources, such as chalk streams and replacing them with alternative sources.
The plan also promotes the need for collective action so water is used efficiently across society, whilst we continue to reduce what’s lost through leaks.
Various new water sources and infrastructure projects are outlined, including water transfers which move water around the region, new reservoirs and water reuse schemes.
A unique feature of this plan is that it has ability to adapt depending on how the future unfolds, so if the population doesn’t increase as much as anticipated and not as much drinking water is required, it can adjust accordingly.
What does this mean for South East Water?
The emerging regional plan outlines a wide range of options for the south east which could be used to supply drinking water in the future.
For South East Water specifically, a number are within our supply area and include:
2025 to 2040:
- Reducing water leaks and increasing water efficiency
- Catchment management and nature based schemes which ensure long term quality and quantity of water
- Water reuse schemes along the River Medway at Aylesford, Kent and along the River Ouse Peacehaven, East Sussex
- Water transfers
2040 to 2100:
- Continuing to reduce water leaks and increasing water efficiency
- Additional catchment management and nature based schemes which ensure long term quality and quantity of water
- A new reservoir at Broad Oak near Canterbury, Kent
- Additional water transfers
The options above are amongst a whole host of proposals in the regional plan and we urge you to take a look now and let us know your thoughts.
Tell us your views
Alongside WRSE, we want to know if we’ve got the building blocks of the plan right, as well as the suggested options.
This is important as the final regional plan will be used to inform our company Water Resources Management Plan.
Once we’ve heard your views on the emerging regional plan it will be further developed into a best value plan encompassing the comments made.
To read all the documents in full and complete the consultation survey, visit the Water Resources South East’s dedicated website.
Alternatively, you can email: [email protected]
The regional consultation closes on 14 March 2022.
Online events
During the past couple of months a series of online events have been held, delving into specific elements of the draft plan.
You can find out about these events and watch them back here.
Given the interconnected overlapping nature of WRSE’s work, you may receive similar emails and invites from WRSE and other water companies.
We look forward to receiving your views.