Stage two

We have now published our draft Water Resources Management Plan, which outlines the range of options we need to deliver over the next 25 years to ensure there is sufficient water for our 2.1 million customers.

This is an important document as it explains what we will need to do – and by when – to meet the shortfall in water.

We also want to make sure our plan is environmentally sound. In tandem with preparing it, we have been carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The results of the assessment to date are an Environmental Report. This shows how we have taken all factors into account when assessing the impact of our draft Water Resource Management Plan on the wider environment.

Our water resources plan shows that by 2035 we will need up to an extra 135 million litres of available water every day to meet demand.

While water efficiency measures will go some way towards conserving this precious resource, on their own they will simply not be enough to ensure a secure supply of water for generations to come.

And if we do nothing? There will simply not be enough water to meet customer demand by 2035.

That is why it is vital to explore options for new sources of water.

Our preferred water strategy – the headlines
  • New winter storage reservoir at Clay Hill, near Ringmer, East Sussex, by 2017
  • New winter storage reservoir at Broad Oak, near Canterbury, by 2024
  • Improve eight existing underground water sources
  • Develop five new underground water sources
  • Build two new strategic pipelines
  • Metering 90% of customers by 2020
  • Reducing leakage
  • Adopting customer supply pipes

Our consultation

As well as being available on this website, copies of the draft water resources management plan, appendices and the SEA Environmental Report are available, during the consultation period from 2 May 2008 to 1 August 2008, for public viewing free of charge during office hours at South East Water’s Head Offices at:

South East Water
Rocfort Road
Snodland
Kent
ME6 5AH

If you are unable to view the plans electronically or visit our offices, please Contact Us and we will aim to deliver an alternative way of providing access to a copy of the plan.

We have planned a series of exhibitions during the consultation period at locations spread across the Company’s whole supply area. A few weeks in advance of each exhibition we will lodge hard copies of the plan at the nearest local library or an alternative suitable location with public access. Details of the exhibitions and viewing locations will be advertised in advance through the local press and the South East Water website.

Our Exhibitions

We are holding a series of exhibitions across our supply area in June 2008.

The exhibitions will outline the challenges that we face as we plan how to provide water for the future.

They will also explain the process we will go through to tackle these challenges, and the possible options that are available to us.

We hope you will be able to come along to one of these sessions which are at:

Date Venue Time
Monday 2 June Desborough Suite, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead 2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 4 June Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath 2pm - 6pm
Friday 6 June Town Hall, Heath Road, Petersfield 2pm - 6pm
Monday 9 June Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne 2pm - 6pm
Friday 13 June The Camden Centre, Market Square, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells 2pm - 6pm
Monday 16 June The Abode Hotel, 30-33 High Street, Canterbury 2pm - 8pm
Wednesday 18 June Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford 2pm - 6pm
Friday 20 June Maidstone Town Hall, Middle Row, High Street, Maidstone 2pm - 6pm
Monday 23 June Red Lion Hotel, Basingstoke 2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 25 June Ringmer Village Hall, Lewes Road, Ringmer 2pm - 8pm