The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has finally approved South East Water’s outline Water Resource Management Plan for the next 25 years.
After more than two years of investigative work the WRMP has now been published on the water company’s website.
The plan is part of a statutory process introduced by Defra for all water companies – the approval means that South East Water can now deliver a range of programmes and investment schemes to ensure there is enough water for both existing and future customers.
In deciding how much extra water will be needed for its 2.1 million consumers, the firm has looked at expected growth in the population over the next 25 years and water demand as well as taking rainfall trends and climate change into account.
David Hinton, Asset and Regulation Director for South East Water, commented:
“This plan sets out what we will need to do, where and by when, to meet the future need for water from people, businesses and also the environment.
“We asked for our customers’ views on these proposals during a 12 week public consultation when there was overwhelming support for our proposals to reduce demand for water, such as through our water efficiency, on-going customer metering and leakage reduction programmes.”
In the short-term the company will complete its metering programme and continue with installing the most up-to-date equipment in its water treatment works so they are operating at full capacity.
During the next five years feasibility studies will be carried out on:
- Aylesford water re-use, River Medway, Kent
- A new storage reservoir at Broad Oak near Canterbury, Kent
- Water re-use in the River Ouse in Sussex
- An extension of the current Arlington Reservoir in Sussex.
Click here to read the WRMP in full.
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