Southern Water has launched a public consultation on its new draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP).

The company’s plan is now available online , ahead of a series of public meetings this autumn – with feedback invited before the consultation closes on Wednesday 4 December 2024.

Customers, community groups and other interested parties can explore how Southern Water’s plans plans to keep taps and rivers flowing across the region for years. The plan looks to ensure a sufficient water supply for the region, both now and in the future, while also protecting and enhancing the environment. It has been developed in collaboration with other water companies, regulators and large water users.

Lawrence Gosden, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Water, said:

“The South East has one of the fastest growing populations in the UK and we’re already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with extreme weather and increased risk of droughts.

“If we are to overcome these challenges, we need to take significant action and make required investment now, in order to create new robust and resilient water supplies for us and future generations.

“We currently predict that we will run out of water within the next ten years without the interventions we’ve included in our plan – impacting our everyday lives, the ability of businesses that provide our vital services and our environment. A transformational period in the water industry is under way and I would welcome the involvement of our communities in sharing their views on our proposals and helping us to deliver it for this generation and generations to come.”

The draft WRMP, which considers future water needs from 2025 to 2075, includes a ‘core pathway’ for the first decade that outlines the actions needed irrespective of how demand for water may change in the years ahead.

Longer-term, the plan includes different options depending on how much more water is needed to maintain supplies and protect the environment. It embraces new technology and outlines a mix of demand reduction and supply boosting strategies – aimed at making water supplies more resilient and reducing the likelihood of drought restrictions, like hosepipe bans.

Highlights include:

• The use of new technology, such as sensors, AI and new water mains, to reduce leakage
• Plans to cut daily average dry year water use to 110 litres per person by 2045 (equivalent to 100 litres per person in a normal year)
• A targeted 9% reduction in business water use by 2038
• The introduction of four water recycling schemes by 2035 to turn treated wastewater into purified recycled water that can be used as a source for drinking water supplies
• Increasing pipelines to transfer water from new sources and more it around our network to where it is needed most.

Throughout October and early November, Southern Water are holding a series of drop-in roadshow events and webinars where stakeholders and members of the public can hear from the team and learn about the proposals.

Click here to access the draft WRMP, the online consultation and for details about the public events