• Thames Water has today (18 October 2024) published its Water Resources Management Plan 24 (WRMP) setting out its commitment to deliver a safe and sustainable water supply for future generations.
• The plan was approved for publication by the Government on the 21 August 2024 and includes proposals for a new reservoir for the South East and a water recycling project in West London.
• Underpinning 80% of Thames Water’s plan is a commitment to reduce leakage and customer demand for water.
• Thames Water forecasts that it will need an additional 1 billion litres of water every day for its customers by 2050.
• A severe drought could cost London’s economy as much £500 million a day

A five-year plan, setting out how the UK’s biggest water company will safeguard supplies to millions of households across the South East, has been published today, following Government approval.

Thames Water is one of five water utilities across the region to receive Government approval for their plans. Companies have taken a collaborative approach, working with Water Resources South East (WRSE) to look beyond their boundaries and create plans which benefit the whole region.

Thames Water’s ambitious plan sets out its commitment to delivering a safe and secure supply of wholesome drinking water for decades to come. The plan is designed to meet the challenges ahead, including a growing population and the effects of climate change, including hotter, drier summers and more frequent droughts.

The company is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment and is working to reduce the amount of water taken from rivers and vulnerable catchments.

“The vital importance of water for all of society, and for the environment, means that we are committed to delivering this plan. Our region faces substantial pressure on its water resources and it’s our responsibility to provide a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water for generations to come. The Government’s approval of our plan also demonstrates confidence in our ability to build nationally significant infrastructure projects, enabling us to meet the future water demand challenges ahead” Nevil Muncaster – Thames Water’s Asset and Engineering Director.

Driving down leakage is also an integral part of the company’s plans to protect future water supply. While Thames Water has reduced leakage to its lowest ever level over the past year – by 7% – it recognises there is more to do and has committed to more than halve leakage by 2050.

In line with national targets, Thames Water is also striving to reduce daily water use to 110 litres per person by 2050, with current water use in the area at around 140 litres per person. To be successful, the company will need support from government through changes to policy and regulation that make homes and water-using appliances more water-efficient, as well as close working with local authorities and customers.

Thames Water is already encouraging customers to use water wisely, with over 1 million smart meters installed across the region giving people access to near real-time water use data. It plans to install or upgrade a further 1.1 million smart meters over the next five years to help the company to meet this ambitious water use reduction target.

Together, these demand reduction measures of customer usage and leakage will make up around 80% of the forecast shortfall.

Investment in vital new infrastructure is also critical to the plan’s success. The Secretary of State concluded that the strategic need for two major projects to help secure the region’s drinking water supplies had been met.
The following nationally significant projects and applications for development consent will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in 2026:

• The Teddington Direct River Abstraction project (TDRA) which from 2033 onwards, will provide up to 75 million litres of water per day during drought conditions.
• The South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) which from 2040 onwards, will provide drinking water to 15 million Thames Water, Southern Water and Affinity Water customers.

The South East of England continues to face substantial pressure on its water resources and is designated as being seriously water stressed by the Environment Agency. Successful delivery of the WRMP will play a crucial role in addressing the risks associated with a shortfall in water supply.