Southern Water Unveils Long-Term Strategy to Secure Water Supplies

Southern Water has published a new long-term strategy aimed at addressing the growing demand for water in the South East, driven by climate change, population growth, and planned reductions in abstractions. The company's Final Draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24) outlines how it intends to deliver reliable water services while protecting the environment, including Hampshire's chalk streams. The plan proposes a combination of improving water efficiency, reducing leakage, and new water sources to address the current shortfall of around 166 million litres of water a day in Hampshire during a severe drought.

Key Takeaways:

• Southern Water's Final Draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24) proposes a combination of improving water efficiency, reducing leakage, and new water sources to address the growing demand for water in the South East.
• The plan aims to deliver reliable water services while protecting the environment, including Hampshire's chalk streams, which are being impacted by climate change, population growth, and planned reductions in abstractions.
• The Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project is a key part of the plan, which would purify treated wastewater for storage in the Havant Thicket Reservoir.
• Southern Water is facing a current shortfall of around 166 million litres of water a day in Hampshire during a severe drought, which is due to limits on the amount of water that can be taken from the county's chalk stream rivers and the underground aquifers that feed them.
• The company aims to address this shortfall through a combination of measures, including improving water efficiency, reducing leakage, and new water sources.
• Ben Ring, major projects director at Southern Water, stated that the plan aims to give communities confidence in how the company will keep taps and rivers flowing for generations to come.
• Government approval of the plan is expected in autumn 2025.

Statistics:

• 166 million litres: The current shortfall of water in Hampshire during a severe drought.
• 166 million litres per day: The amount of water needed to address the shortfall.
• 2025: The expected date for government approval of the plan.
• The South East: The region where Southern Water's water supply demand is growing due to climate change, population growth, and planned reductions in abstractions.

Sources:

• Southern Water
• Ben Ring, major projects director at Southern Water
• Ciaran McCrickard, Southern Water

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