Southern Water has published its Water Resources Management Plan setting out where it will spend billions of pounds over the next 25 years to maintain water supplies for  customers while protecting environment – in the face of population growth and climate change.

Without action, the company could face a 300 million litre per day shortfall in water supplies by 2040, increasing to a 500 million litre per day shortfall by 2075.

Launching the plan, Southern Water said:

“Our Water Resources Management Plan - which is open to public consultation - sets the challenge of replacing more than a quarter of the water we currently use by 2050, as we seek to enhance and protect our environment.“

The water company intends to do this by driving down demand and increasing supplies, with commitments including:

• reducing leakage by at least 50% by 2050 by embracing new technology and replacing old water mains  
• helping customers to reduce their average daily use to 100 litres per day – below the plan’s minimum goal of 109 litres per day by 2040
• investing in two new reservoirs, including at Havant Thicket in Hampshire, and improving existing water storage capacity
• embracing new technology including water recycling and desalination at sites across its region
• joining up with other water companies in the South East to build more pipelines to transfer supplies to where it is most needed.

The publication comes the same day as Water Resources South East publishes its own draft regional plan which forecasts that with no action, South East England could face nearly a 1bn litre per day shortfall in water supplies by 2035, rising to 2.7bn litres per day by 2075.

Southern Water has also published its own updated Drought Plan, setting out what the company will do to manage water supplies when a drought occurs.

Nick Price, Southern Water’s Water Strategy Manager, said:

“Water scarcity and shortfalls driven by climate change, population growth and increasing demand from industry are challenges we are ready for. This plan sets out the decisions we need to take to make sure there’s enough water for everyone in our region, now and in the future, and to protect and enhance our shared environment.

“We want to embrace new technology, taking actions to both reduce demand and increase supply. This approach will make our services more resilient, meaning the drought restrictions we saw over the summer will become less likely, while we also protect and improve the environment we rely on.

“We cannot achieve our goals without our customers and stakeholders. That’s why it’s so important that we hear from as many of you as possible. We look forward to hearing your views and working together to provide Water for Life.”

Southern Water’s Water Resources Management Plan is open for public consultation. Deadline to submit comments and responses is 20 February 2023 – click here to access the WRMP and consultation