THAMES Water is closing its public consultation on a 50-year plan next week.
The Water Resources Management Plan, currently a draft, is looking to come into effect in 2024 and will lay out the company’s aims and intentions for the next 50 years.
It was developed through collaboration with Water Resources South East and other neighbouring water companies as Thames Water sought to integrate with other organisations in the region
The draft plan, which proposes investment of up to £13 billion between 2025 and 2050, sets out a range of strategic options to build new water sources across the South East.
The proposals also include a new reservoir near Abingdon and the creation of a recreational space.
It seeks to protect residents against the growing risks of drought and reduce environmental impact.
Once the consultation has closed, plans will be sent forward to the Environment Secretary in June.
Thames Water currently supplies around 2.6 billion litres of water to customers every day.
Nevil Muncaster, strategic resources director at Thames Water, said: “We believe that water belongs to everyone and are committed to safeguarding its future.
“We’re working hard to build resilience and our plan sets out how we intend to meet the challenges ahead including a growing population and more extreme weather conditions, such as drought.
“Finding and fixing leaks is fundamental to our plan and we’re working hard to upgrade our Victorian pipes to meet 21st century demands.”
He explained: “We also have to plan for future generations, investing-in and building new infrastructure to support our region.
“The strategy sets out several proposed options includes a new reservoir near Abingdon and a river abstraction scheme in Teddington.
“Listening to our customers and communities is critical to the success of our strategy, which is why we’ve welcomed thousands of people to our online and in-person events since the consultation launched in December.”
He said also that there was still time for the public to have their say and to share their views.
“I encourage everyone to take part.”
The public consultation closes on Tuesday, March 21, and is available via: thames-wrmp.co.uk
