South Lincolnshire Reservoir plan 'progressing' with four options on the table
Plans for a £942.7million reservoir in south Lincolnshire capable of holding at least 50million litres of water are entering a critical phase.
Work is progressing on identifying four possible sites for the South Lincolnshire Reservoir (SLR) before a deadline of July 2021.
Water Resources East (WRE), an independent body managing water provision in eastern England, is working on designs for each of the sites to be presented to national water regulator OFWAT next year.
David Pullen, chairman of the Inland Waterways Association’s (IWA) Lincolnshire branch, believed the new reservoir could help pay for the Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor (B2P) navigation route.
Mr Pullen said: "Because of the growth in population in eastern England, climate change and increasing demand from farmers for irrigation water, it’s feared that the region could run out of water if something isn’t done.
"A probable solution is a new reservoir in south Lincolnshire and work on the initial design will allow for up to four sites to be submitted to OFWAT by 2021, with design of the final option to be completed in July 2022.
"The B2P Wetland Corridor will, hopefully, be part of the SLR solution and part of the wetland corridor would be financed by the reservoir.
"Most of the work is now concentrating on water sourcing and ecological assessments.
"I recently visited Covenham Reservoir, near Louth, which is an Anglian Water public water supply reservoir.
"Although it is much smaller than the projected size for the SLR, it is somewhat of a 'scale model' for it in that it is fed by an open water channel in the form of the Louth Canal."
The SLR’s estimated cost was included in a report by Affinity Water, suppliers to homes and businesses in the south east of England, which is working with Anglian Water and the WRE on the project.
A WRE spokesman said: "We are working with Affinity Water, Anglian Water and other partners in south Lincolnshire to create new sources of water in the area (such as the proposed SLR) to meet long-term water resources needs.
"The work of this group is being coordinated via the South Lincolnshire Water Partnership and the SLR is one of a number of options being considered as part of a national strategy to help water companies meet the challenges of climate change, population growth and new developments.
"The aim is to protect water supply systems and customers from the effects of severe drought, while delivering the kind of environmental improvements which are set out in the Government's 25-year Environment Plan.
"The partnership aims to ensure that any new reservoir in south Lincolnshire delivers benefits for local communities and businesses, including environmental improvements, sustainable economic development and reductions in vulnerability to drought and flood.
"The partnership is due to select a site by the end of 2021 and will undergo extensive engagement and involvement prior to this to help us select the best possible option."
Spalding East division county councillor Eddy Poll, also a WRE board member, said: “The WRE partnership is continuing to work on possible designs and locations, progressing well in order to meet the deadline for the shortlisting of options in July 2021. The use of open water courses, such as existing rivers and channels to feed the reservoir, brings opportunities to fulfil the ambitions of the B2P Wetland Corridor.
“This would be a major step in achieving a navigable route between the cathedral cities of Lincoln and Peterborough and the wider waterways network.”
