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Water is our most precious resource and it’s our responsibility to ensure there is enough for all life.

Every five years, we update our plans which detail how we’ll keep your taps running into the future, while striking that delicate balance between ensuring there is additional water to supply a growing population, while protecting the environment and adding value to society.

Our Water Resources Management Plan(opens in a new tab) explains how we will provide a reliable and resilient supply of drinking water during the next 50 years.

Following our statutory consultation, we have published our revised Water Resources Management Plan and consultation Statement of Response.

Once Defra has reviewed our revised plan, and pending any comments they may have, we will then publish our final plan later this year. That plan will then be embedded in our PR24 business plan and we’ll then begin implementing the actions within it.

Broad Oak, Kent public exhibition

What is in the revised plan?

Our plan is closely linked with Water Resources South East(opens in a new tab)’s (WRSE) regional plan which looks at how water will be sourced and supplied to a growing population across the whole South East region for the next 50 years.

Both plans outline how we can deliver the additional water needed – through both reducing demand and leakage as well as substantial investment in new infrastructure.

This new infrastructure includes new storage reservoirs, desalination plants, water recycling and strategic transfers from other regions.

Crucially, none of these new solutions were considered in isolation. Through the plan we have a truly regional solution which secures the water we need to improve and protect our environment, enhance our resilience, and allow our region to grow sustainably.

It includes:

  • Leak reduction and water efficiency activities
  • New pipelines to increase the amount of water that moves between water companies and also within our supply area
  • New pipelines to improve our local connectivity and allow us to deliver our environmental improvements that will ensure our sources are sustainable
  • A new reservoir at Broad Oak (Kent) in 2033
  • A second reservoir at Arlington
  • Improvements at one of our groundwater treatment works to allow an increase in supply
  • Desalination at Reculver (Kent)

Statement of Response

Between 14 November 2022 and 20 February 2023, we consulted with our customers and stakeholders on our draft Water Resources Management Plan(opens in a new tab) which set out how we’d provide a reliable and resilient supply of drinking water during the next 50 years.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend one of our webinars, visit a public exhibition or take a look at our website and respond to the consultation.

We have now reviewed all the comments made and published our Statement of Response which outlines how we have responded to each piece of feedback.

You can download our response documents below:

Draft Water Resources Management Plan 2024 Statement of Response

Revised Water Resources Management Plan 2024

Technical Documents