The Water Resources in the South East (WRSE) group has published its new strategy for water which looks 60 years ahead and at a range of plausible “what if?” scenarios and solutions to manage water resources in the region.

“From Source To Tap: The south east strategy for water” is the culmination of ground-breaking collaboration and technical work to develop an affordable, sustainable and resilient regional strategy for water.

WRSE is aiming to find better or new ways of sharing water by using existing sources, pipes and treatment works and developing new sources of water and bigger, longer pipelines to move it further around the region. The Group is also working to reduce the amount of water that is lost or wasted – whether by finding and fixing more leaks on the pipe network, or encouraging customers to use less through metering programmes and ambitious water efficiency initiatives.

The south east region, much of which is officially designated as being in serious water stress, is facing pressures and challenges greater than those faced by other regions in the UK, including:

• more people in expanding towns and cities;
• relatively low rainfall but higher water use by people;
• environmental pressures to keep more water in its natural home e.g. rivers, rare chalk streams and underground aquifers.

WRSE has identified a mix of long-term solutions that will offer the best value for customers, society and the environment.

Proposals set out in the strategy include:

• reservoirs at Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, and Havant Thicket in Hampshire
• desalination at Beckton
• water re-use schemes at Mogden and Deephams
• strategic water transfers to further improve the connectivity and resilience of the region

The WRSE was originally formed in 1996 following a recommendation from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which suggested there should be better regional co-operation when it came to sharing water.

Members include Affinity Water, Portsmouth Water, South East Water, Southern Water, SES Water and Thames Water alongside the Environment Agency, Ofwat, the Consumer Council for Water, Natural England, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) the Canal and River Trust and the Greater London Authority.

Click here to download`From Source to tap: the south east strategy for water’