South East Water has set out plans to build new reservoirs, water treatment works, together with the creation of more water transfer achemes, according to its newly-published draft Water Resources Management Plan.

Longer term, proposals include looking at desalination and further reservoirs across the south east.

The water company is seeking comment on its proposals in a 12 week consultation - the final plan will be published later this year.

South East Water said the plan takes into account changing weather patterns over the next 60 years and a 53 per cent predicted increase in population within its supply area.

The proposals include:

2020 to 2045

• building a new water treatment works at the former Aylesford Newsprint site, Kent by 2023
• upgrading existing water treatment works at Ford WTW in east Kent by 2027
• developing a water reuse scheme at Peacehaven, East Sussex by 2028
• building a new reservoir next to our existing Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex by 2032
• creating a new reservoir in Broad Oak, Kent by 2033
• a water re-use scheme at Aylesford, Kent by 2038
• a water reuse scheme on the River Ouse, East Sussex by 2028
• developing a regional water transfer scheme from SES Water

Long term considerations between 2045 and 2080:

• desalination at Eastbourne, Reculver and the River Medway
• water re-use on the River Stour, east Kent
• a new reservoir in West Sussex
• new raw water abstraction and treatment works from the River Thames near Maidenhead, Berkshire
• regional water transfers from Portsmouth and Thames Water
• a new groundwater resource near Farnborough, Hampshire

In addition, South East Water has pledged to invest in new technology to upgrade its water treatment works, reduce leaks even further and expand its award-winning programme which helps customers control their own water use.

Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water, said:

“We are looking far into the future, right to 2080, to make sure we have a secure and resilient water supply for homes and businesses, while also balancing the needs of the environment and keeping customers’ bills down.

“The draft plan represents a £1 billion investment in water supply infrastructure and has been developed with input from customers, communities, other water suppliers and our stakeholders. It takes into account forecasts of future population and housing growth as well as the uncertainty of climate change.”

As part of its public consultation, customers will be able to speak directly to South East Water and comment on the plans at a series of community exhibitions in those areas where large investment projects are planned.

The public consultation closes on 21 May 2018.

Click here to download the Draft Water Resources management Plan