Have your say on your local water company’s five-year plan

Every five years, water companies in England are required to produce a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), which outlines how they intend to meet the expected water demands not just in the next five years but over the next 50 in their respective service areas.

These plans take into account increasing population, climate change and growing risks of drought – while also protecting and enhancing the local environment.

An important part of the WRMP plans is customer feedback on topics which concern them most. They are currently in draft form and out for public consultation.

Deadlines fast approaching

Your local water company is required and expected to listen to customer consultation feedback as part of their WRMP process, but deadlines for this are fast approaching.

In an effort to help you quickly understand some of the more technical issues and meet the deadlines, we have read each of the water companies’ WRMPs and compiled actions that the South East Rivers Trust supports or thinks could be improved.

These will help you understand the water challenges we’re facing and they set out SERT’s expert insight into what is working and what is not.

Once you’ve read your water company’s WRMP highlights and SERT’s related responses, make sure you have your say! If you don’t know what to say, but do agree with SERT’s position, then we’ve created a simple template that you can use to respond to your water company and DEFRA.

Alternatively, you can fill in your local water company’s online consultation response form.

Action is needed NOW! Deadlines are fast approaching

  • Affinity Water 20th February 2023
  • South East Water 20th February 2023
  • Southern Water 20th February 2023
  • SES Water 20th February 2023
  • Thames Water  21st March 2023

If you are unsure which company supplies you, click here to find out, using your postcode.

Hotter drier summers (brought on by climate change) combined with abstraction of water to meet increasing demand means scenes like this are becoming more regular

Why it is important to speak up

The south east of England is classed as a water stressed area. In 2019, the Environment Agency warned that within 25 years we will not have enough water to meet demand as the population grows and climate change bites.

Water is not only an essential resource in our everyday lives, but also for our rivers and wetlands.

The water we use comes from the environment. It is pumped out (abstracted) from our rivers, wetlands and the underground aquifers that feed them, as well as reservoirs.

Every day water companies pump millions of litres of water out of the natural environment.

Reducing abstractions will help protect rivers in the area such as chalk streams

Fighting for quality water supply

The more water a water company takes – and the more they pollute through sewage discharges – the less high quality water there is to keep our rivers and wetlands thriving.

This includes globally rare chalk streams and wildlife such as kingfishers, water voles and brown trout.

Additionally, a significant amount of the water is lost through leakage before it even reaches our taps.

Elsewhere, water is wasted by dripping taps, leaky loos, and using more water than is needed.

To protect our rivers and precious water resources, it’s important that everyone supports ambitious actions to reduce over-abstraction and water wastage, and voice concern where plans are likely to cause more harm to the environment.

Our experts have been through the draft plans and made suggestions for you to use in your responses. A draft email we have attached will help you frame responses, too.

South East Water has set out to half leak levels by 2050 Photo Luis Quintero Pexels

Thames Water - what they say

Thames Water

Thames Water’s draft WRMP24 plan includes:

Demand management

  • Reducing the amount of water lost through leaks by 16% by 2030 and meeting the government’s target of halving leakage by 2050
  • Reducing demand to 123 litres per person per day by 2050 – through rolling out smart meters and experimenting with new tariffs. This is above the government’s national target of 110 litres per person per day, but Thames Water says there is a lack of evidence that such a target is realistic or presents best value to customers

For new water sources, Thames Water plans to create

  • A new river abstraction from the Thames at Teddington supported by water recycled from Mogden sewage treatment works – providing 67 million litres per day by 2031
  • A new reservoir near Abingdon in Oxfordshire to supply not only Thames Water customers but also those in Affinity Water and Southern Water area – providing 185 million litres per day by 2040
  • A Severn to Thames transfer – supplying water to Thames Water customers and to Affinity Water and Southern Water customers

For the environment, the company plans to

  • Reduce abstractions from the environment – prioritising chalk streams, designated sites and river headwaters to keep as much water flowing downstream as possible.
Thames Water’s targets for water use per person do not meet government aims. Picture by Liliana Drew/Pexels

Thames Water - what you can say

  • Reducing abstractions from the environment is welcome: namely the abstraction reductions at Epsom on the Hogsmill chalk stream, and also the planned 151 million litres per day from the Darent, Cray and Ravensbourne. We support the most ambitious targets for these reductions
  • It is great that Thames Water plans to develop new sources of water sooner rather than later to support environmental improvements across the south east. However, the environmental impact of the Teddington abstraction scheme remains a concern. This will release treated sewage into the river, raising the temperature and impacting water quality with negative consequences on the freshwater ecosystem and wildlife. Bringing forward the timetable for other options, including the proposed reservoir near Abingdon, is preferable
  • Given the strong evidence of the benefits of smart metering, Thames Water should be challenged to fast track their roll out and achieve near 100% coverage by 2030
  • Thames Water’s aim of helping people to reduce their water usage to 123 litres per person per day (from 141 currently) also lacks ambition. Other companies in the south east aim to meet the government’s target of 110 litres
  • This raises questions about whether Thames Water is doing enough to target very high water users, including in business sectors such as leisure. Are there approaches to leakage management that Thames Water can learn from others? Thames Water should step up learning, innovation and testing to ramp up effective demand measures quickly.

Download our PDF with bullet points to respond to Thames Water’s consultation

A smart water meter can help customers use about 13% less water

Southern Water - what they say

Southern Water supplies 2.5 million customers in parts of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. About 70% of the water supplied comes from groundwater sources, including chalk aquifers that feed rare chalk streams.

If nothing is done, Southern Water says it faces an expected shortfall in water supplies of 319 million litres per day by 2035, rising to more than 500 million litres per day by 2070.

Southern Water’s draft WRMP24 plan includes:

Demand Management

  • Reducing leakage by at least 50% by 2050 (meeting the government’s target), possibly increasing this to 62% – through improving monitoring and managing pressure in the water supply network; replacing water mains; rolling out smart meters; and use of technology to provide data about leakage. (Southern Water has one of the lowest levels of leakage of all water companies, but this still accounts for 17% of the total water put into supply)
  • Reducing water use to 109 litres per person per day by 2040 (more ambitious than the government’s target). Southern Water is considering an even more ambitious target of 100 litres by 2040. It will achieve this by: replacing meters with smart water meters; home visits and installing water saving devices; running public and education campaigns on water use; and introducing innovative tariffs to incentivise water saving

Water supply – new water sources

The company intends to build new pipelines to transfer water across the south east to increase resilience.

It also has plans in the following areas:

Hampshire & Isle of Wight: Transfer of 90 million litres of water a day from Havant Thicket Reservoir to the Southampton area; Transfer of up to 120 million litres per day from the Thames Water area, which requires the development of a new reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire (as covered in Thames Water section above).

Sussex: New reservoir near Henfield to store water from the River Adur; Desalination plant on the coast by 2030.

Kent: Water recycling scheme on the River Medway to support existing abstraction from the river by 2040; Desalination plants on the Isle of Sheppey, in East Thanet and on the Thames Estuary (8-40 million litres a day by 2050).

Southern Water aims to transfer water from other companies into the area. Pexels

Southern Water - what you can say

  • It is great to see Southern Water continuing to lead the way on leakage and water efficiency. The ambitious target of people using just 100 litres of water per day by 2040 goes well beyond government targets and would be industry-leading. Southern Water should also commit to its higher target of 62% leakage reduction by 2050
  • Measures to reduce customer water use during drought and to phase out drought orders/permits are welcome. Together these measures will ensure precious habitats have sufficient water in drought conditions
  • Supply schemes that will reduce unsustainable abstraction from chalk groundwater and meet environmental flow targets are welcome;
  • It is pleasing to see a significant proportion of water supply coming from reservoirs. Reservoirs, if well-placed and operated, can have minimal impacts on the freshwater environment and are a lower carbon option compared with desalination and water recycling; they can also provide multiple benefits such as biodiversity and recreation. Water recycling involves taking treated wastewater and putting it back into rivers for later abstraction and reuse by homes and businesses. The consequences on river systems at the scale proposed are unknown; Southern Water should closely monitor these systems and develop plans to mitigate any negative outcomes
  • It is good to see that Southern Water wishes to invest in nature across whole river catchments by funding nature-based solutions to enhance water resources resilience and achieve wider environmental improvements. The South East Rivers Trust does a lot of work with partners across our region to help identify and deliver nature-based solutions
  • Although not the focus of this plan, a rapid reduction in the frequency, duration and impact of sewer spills into the rivers and coastal environment is required. Southern Water has performed very poorly in this area. Significant investment in nature-based solutions, as well as engineered infrastructure such as sewers and treatment works, will be needed to turn this around.

Download our PDF with bullet points to respond to Southern Water’s consultation

Southern Water wishes to invest in nature-based solutions to help protect rivers and nature

South East Water - what they say

South East Water supplies 2.26 million customers across Kent, Sussex and Hampshire and Berkshire. This is expected to rise to 2.81 million by 2050.

The average per capita consumption is 146.3 litres per person per day, significantly higher than that of Southern Water and the national average, in an area classified as seriously water stressed.

At current supply rates and if nothing is done, South East Water faces a shortfall of 225 million litres of water per day by 2075.

South East Water’s draft WRMP24 plan includes:

Demand Management

  • A commitment to reducing leakage levels by half by 2050 (meeting the government’s target) and continuing to make further reductions by 2075
  • Reducing household water use down to 112 litres per customer per day by 2050 (falling short of the government’s target of 110 litres) – through changing behaviour around water use, water audits, community partnerships, and installation of smart meters and water-saving devices. (£2.1 billion will be invested to drive down leaks and reduce water use.) South East Water has installed water meters for around 90% of their household customers; these will be replaced with smart water meters over the next 20 years.

Water Supply – new water sources

  • Investing £2.2 billion by 2075 to build: Broad Oak Reservoir in Kent (2033) – providing an additional 22 million litres of water a day; and a second reservoir at Arlington in East Sussex (2041) – for an additional 18 million litres of water a day.

Environment

  • Reducing unsustainable abstraction from the environment – 158 million litres per day by 2050.
South East Water customers use amounts per day significantly above the national average

South East Water - what you can say

  • Plans to reduce the amount of water removed from the environment to ensure rivers stay flowing are welcome
  • It is pleasing to see significant investment in demand management. However, the target for reducing household water use at 112 litres per person per day does not meet  the government’s target of 110 litres, which other water companies in the south east are aiming to meet. South East Water should be challenged to increase the pace of smart meter and water audit roll out, and do more to target and incentivise very high water users, including in business sectors such as leisure and horticulture. South East Water should step up learning, innovation and testing to ramp up effective demand measures quickly
  • High water-using businesses should be offered greater, more flexible incentives for curbing their demand
  • Timetables should be brought forward for the construction of reservoirs at Broad Oak and a second one at Arlington – and they should be built on the basis that the impacts on local freshwater systems would be beneficial or negligible
  • It is good to see water transfers to improve connectivity within the company’s network and also to bring in water from other water company supply areas where there is a surplus.

Download our PDF with bullet points to respond to South East Water’s consultation

South East Water wants to help rivers flow freely by cutting how much it takes from them

SES Water - what they say

SES Water supplies 0.8 million customers in east Surrey, south London and parts of Kent. This is expected to rise to 0.87 million by 2075.

85% of the water supplied comes from groundwater sources, including chalk aquifers which feed rare chalk streams.

The average consumption of SES Water’s customers is about 150 litres per person per day, significantly higher than that of Southern Water and the national average, in a water stressed area.

At current rates of water consumption and if nothing is done, SES Water faces an expected shortfall of 47 million litres of water a day by 2075.

SES Water’s draft WRMP24 plan includes:

  • Reducing leaks on water pipes by at least 50% by 2050 (meeting the government’s target)
  • Helping households and businesses use less water to meet the government’s target of 110 litres per person per day by 2050 – including providing smart meters to customers under a 12-year programme; looking at new tariffs that encourage people to use water wisely; and continuing to implement temporary restrictions during times of drought
  • Increasing resilience of water supplies across the region by sharing more water with neighbouring companies (after 2030) and building infrastructure to move more water around SES Water’s supply area (after 2040)
  • Increasing storage of water by raising the capacity of Bough Beech Reservoir in Kent (after 2050)
  • Reducing the amount of water abstraction from the environment by up to 31 million litres per day, supporting nature and wildlife in and around rivers and wetlands, including sensitive and rare chalk streams.
Reducing abstractions will help protect rivers in the area such as chalk streams

SES Water - what you can say

  • Rolling out smart meters is to be welcomed. This will give customers a better understanding of how they use water and where they can use less and to enable targeting of leaks in properties. However, given one third of water is lost through leaking taps and toilets, the pace of roll out could be increased to reach near 100% coverage well before 2037
  • It is pleasing to see measures to reduce customer water use during drought and to phase out drought orders/permits which allow abstraction from the environment during drought. Together these measures will ensure precious habitats have sufficient water in drought conditions
  • Steps to reduce the amount of water taken from groundwater are welcome. This will protect the flow of rare chalk streams. However, of concern is the heavy reliance on reducing household and business demand to achieve these abstraction reductions in the short to medium term. SES Water should consider bringing in measures to increase water storage and sources before 2050.

Download our PDF with bullet points to respond to SES Water’s consultation

Bough Beech reservoir, picture courtesy SES Water

Affinity Water - what they say

Affinity Water supplies 950 million litres of water to 3.83 million people living and working across three supply areas in the southeast – covering parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Kent. 65% of their water comes directly from groundwater sources, including chalk aquifers; the rest is from rivers and transfers from other water companies.

Customers use on average 157.9 litres per person per day, significantly higher than those of Southern Water and the national average, and yet the south east of England is classified as seriously water stressed. Water demand has been forecast to increase by around 10% by 2050. If no action is taken, Affinity  faces an expected shortfall of up to 2.7 billion litres of water per day by 2075.

Affinity Water’s draft WRMP24 plan includes:

Demand management

  • Smart meter roll-out with 400,000 smart meters installed by 2030 and a further 500,000 by 2040
  • Achieving 50% leakage reduction by 2050 (meeting the government’s target) – through finding and fixing leaks within the supply network, and renewal of water mains (at a slow pace to keep costs and disruption as low as possible)
  • Promoting market innovations for businesses to save water including water audits, water recycling, subsidised repairs to reduce leaks, and incentives to adopt water-efficient actions

Water supply – new water sources

  • These are mostly outside South East Rivers Trust’s area, but include sources which will contribute significantly to water resources across the southeast, including:
    • Grand Union Canal Transfer (50 million litres per day) – water from the Midlands will be transferred along the Grand Union canal to supply Affinity’s central area, supporting abstraction reductions to keep chalk streams flowing in the Chilterns
    • A water transfer pipeline from the River Thames to Affinity’s central area, supported by a new storage reservoir located close to Abingdon in Oxfordshire (as covered in Thames Water section above)
    • Increasing connectivity to move water across their supply area.

Environment

10% of the UK’s chalk streams are in Affinity Water’s supply region. Affinity Water is investing heavily in reducing abstraction from chalk aquifers, which feed rare chalk streams and finding other sources of water. It is supportive of taking a “Chalk Streams First” approach – i.e. taking water from lower reaches of river catchments and aquifers to reduce environmental impacts/allow water to flow down the chalk streams first.

In Affinity’s area, the per person consumption rate for water is very high

Affinity Water - what you can say

  • Rolling out smart meters to give customers a better understanding of how they use water and where they can use less and to enable targeting of leaks in properties is to be welcomed. However, the pace of roll out should be increased. 0.9 million households (less than a quarter) by 2040 is far off the full coverage that other water companies are aiming for
  • The proposed measures to reduce demand in business sectors are welcome. These include water audits, encouraging recycling and incentivising approaches to water efficiency. Affinity Water is urged to bring forward all of these measures to 2025
  • It is great to see measures to reduce customer water use during drought and to phase out drought orders/permits which allow abstraction from the environment during drought. Together these measures will ensure precious habitats have sufficient water in drought conditions
  • Steps to reduce the amount of water taken from groundwater sources are welcome, particularly restoring the flow of rare chalk streams. The development of new sources of supply, such as the Grand Union transfer, will help achieve this
  • The “chalk stream first” approach is to be commended as it protects these precious habitats.

Download our PDF with bullet points to respond to Affinity Water’s consultation

Affinity's "chalk stream first" approach is welcomed

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