Anglian Water pushing on with south Lincolnshire reservoir plan to secure future supply

Bosses at Anglian Water say they are pushing ahead with plans for a new reservoir in our area in a bid to 'secure water supplies for future generations'.

After the driest spell since 1976 - with a drought declared here - the firm says it is nearly ready to ask the public about its plans for the future and warns that a failure to act could soon leave us with a water deficit of millions of litres a day.

South Lincolnshire has been eyed up as a possible location for a reservoir - previously described as being something the size of Grafham Water that would be linked to a new wet fen planned by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in Bourne.

The location of this reservoir - and another for the 'Fens' that is a joint project with Cambridge Water - has not yet been revealed, but details are due for the autumn and the public are being promised a say.

Plans for the project have been developed over the last 10 years - with the firm saying the summer heatwave is 'keenly illustrating the need for investment in more water storage'.

They say the demand on water resources is more keenly felt here than any other part of the UK - given this is the driest part of the nation.

The two new reservoirs could supply enough water for at least 750,000 homes, as well as protecting the environment by allowing Anglian Water, which also manages Rutland Water, to reduce the amount of water taken from rivers and underground aquifers elsewhere in the region.

Alex Plant, director of strategy and regulation for Anglian Water, said: “It’s plain to see when you look out the window right now just how precious water is. It’s the lifeblood of the region for our customers, businesses, agriculture and nature. The current situation presents an obvious backdrop as to why projects like this are needed, but the reality is because we’ve known the future promises many more people, but far fewer raindrops, we have been working on these projects for years, as we know how long they take to come to fruition.

“Getting these projects underway now means the chances of our taps running dry are significantly reduced, as well as helping us take a big step forward in protecting the environment by reducing how much we take from elsewhere in the region. And these are just two of 18 strategic water resources projects being developed across the UK in collaboration with our regulators – Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate through the RAPID structure the regulators set up to support delivery of these critical schemes.

“The reality is stark for the East of England. We operate in the driest part of the country and receive a third less rainfall than anywhere else in the UK, but we’re also one of the fastest growing regions, with 175,000 new homes to be built in the next five years. Without action we will face a water deficit of millions of litres a day within the next five years – let alone 25 years.

“Right now, we’re already working on new strategic pipelines to move water from wetter to drier parts of our region, installing over a million smart meters in customers’ homes to help them better understand their water use, and driving down leakage to world leading low levels – last year alone delivering five years' worth of leakage reduction in a single year. These reservoirs will build on these demand reduction measures, and will play a critical role in securing water supply long into the future.

“But we should be clear – while all of these projects cumulatively will help to keep taps running, they are necessary because the demand for water will greatly outstrip the available supply unless we take action now, which is why we still all need to do our bit to use less.”

Anglian Water says its new reservoir could also create wider opportunities for the area - with other providing for recreation through activities such as sailing, cycling and fishing. Visitor centres support educational programmes, while areas dedicated to wildlife are managed as nature reserves.

Hannah Stanley-Jones, head of Future Resources Strategy for Anglian Water, said: “These new reservoirs will supply drinking water, but they bring much wider opportunities. We plan to provide new places for people to visit and enjoy, economic investment for communities, and homes for wildlife. We have seen what a positive contribution our existing water parks can bring for the people living and working near them. We want to create the same with these new reservoirs.

“We’re at a very early stage in the planning process and have been carrying out detailed technical work to help identify the best locations for the proposed reservoirs. We plan to share where we have reached with this work in Autumn when we will be launching the first phase of consultation on our proposals.

“This will include the proposed locations, and our assessment of what we will need to do to deliver them responsibly by minimising any impacts on the environment and local communities. This will provide the opportunity for local people to feed back before we develop our plans further. We anticipate this will be the first of three phases of consultation.

“Before the first phase of consultation commences, to help people understand why the reservoirs are needed and what they will deliver, we have updated our website with more information about these projects which we are developing in partnership with Cambridge Water and Affinity Water.”

“Although we’ve recognised the need for and have already been planning these projects for a number of years, they are still at an early stage, as it’s a long and detailed planning process. The designs will be developed over a number of years with opportunities for communities to have their say and shape how the reservoirs are designed. Construction of the new reservoirs could begin by 2030 with the hope that they would start supplying water to customer taps by the mid to late 2030s.”

Daniel Johns, managing director, water resources east and chairperson of the South Lincs Water Partnership and Fens Water Partnership, said: “Both the Fens and Lincolnshire Reservoirs are critical to the region’s future prosperity and environmental health as the changing climate makes existing water resources less reliable. Eastern England needs to make the most of the rain that does fall in our river catchments, the driest part of the country. That means significantly more water storage is urgently needed.

“What’s particularly exciting about these two reservoir projects is the huge potential for both to deliver much wider benefits for agriculture, for local communities and the regional economy. And there is a real appetite and ambition amongst local partners to make this happen. Water Resources East is proud to play its part in supporting this process, and I’m delighted to see the opportunities that both these projects bring beginning to be brought to life.”

Darren Smith, South Lincolnshire Water Partnership Officer, said: “It’s more important than ever that we work together to secure water for people and the environment. Over recent months, the South Lincolnshire Water Partnership (SLWP) has played an important role influencing the ongoing development of Anglian Water’s Lincolnshire Reservoir option. I’d encourage people to find out more about the proposals and play your part in shaping the outcome.”

Anglian Water says it will soon be contacting all landowners and residents who may be impacted by these proposals. A ten-week public consultation will follow for people to review the proposals and provide comments.

More information on the new reservoirs will be available at: www.anglianwater.co.uk/new-reservoirs including how to get in contact with Anglian Water regarding the proposals.

Anglian Water says it will will be asking for feedback on all aspects of the proposed reservoirs over a multi-phase consultation, including the proposed areas within which the reservoirs could be located, the infrastructure connected to it, the short term and temporary impacts of the construction process, and all matters regarding the environment.

It says there will be multiple opportunities over the coming years for people to feed back as the proposals continue to take shape. Further information on the autumn consultation and details of how to take part will follow later in the year.