Thames Water Accelerates Plans to Secure South East's Future Water Supply

Today marks a significant step in securing the future water supply for the South East as Thames Water launches a public consultation on a new reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. This ambitious project, known as the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), aims to provide a sustainable water source for 15 million people across the region, encompassing customers of Thames Water, Southern Water, and Affinity Water.

The UK has not built a new reservoir in over 30 years, and with climate change and population growth posing increasing threats, Thames Water forecasts a daily need for an additional 1 billion litres of water by 2050. A severe drought could cost London's economy up to £500 million per day, underscoring the urgency of this project.

Thames Water has released a new interim masterplan and design vision for the reservoir, illustrating how it could be constructed and integrated into the community. The design highlights not only its primary function of water storage but also its potential as a leisure and recreational hub with vast blue and green spaces.

Developed in collaboration with Southern Water and Affinity Water, SESRO is designed to meet the needs of a growing population while protecting the environment. The reservoir would ensure sufficient water supply well into the next century, addressing the needs of over 19 million people in the South and East of England, projected to increase by 2 million by 2050.

Leonie Dubois, Thames Water’s Head of Engagement, emphasized the importance of this investment: “Our water resources are under threat, and the consequences of not investing in a new reservoir could be detrimental to millions of people, the environment, and the economy.”

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has identified the need for several nationally significant water resource projects by 2030. If approved, the Oxfordshire reservoir is expected to take at least 15 years to complete, with a target opening date of 2040.

Thames Water urges communities across the South East to participate in the public consultation, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping this critical infrastructure project. The interim masterplan invites feedback on various aspects, including leisure opportunities and potential changes to the local road network to improve connectivity.

Lee Dance, Organisational Director at Water Resources South East, highlighted the importance of SESRO: “It will provide a new strategic water resource, producing up to 270 million litres of water per day, vital for meeting future challenges and protecting our region’s environment.”

With the public consultation now open, Thames Water is taking a decisive step toward securing a resilient and sustainable water future for the South East.

Below a tour of the proposed reservoir.