Thames Water is advancing plans for a critical infrastructure project designed to bolster water supply resilience during periods of drought. The Severn to Thames Transfer project aims to secure additional water by transferring resources from the River Severn to the River Thames through either a newly constructed pipeline or by restoring the historic Cotswold canals. This initiative forms a key part of Thames Water’s long-term strategy to manage future water demand sustainably, as outlined in its Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP24), which received government approval last year and projects needs for the next 50 years.

To develop the project’s conceptual design and technical planning, Thames Water has appointed a joint venture between AtkinsRéalis and Stantec. This partnership brings together expertise in environmental science, engineering, design, and long-term water resource management, tasked with ensuring the project is prepared for a range of potential future scenarios. Additional water inputs under consideration involve collaboration with Severn Trent Water and United Utilities, broadening the scope and capacity of the transfer system.

The urgency of such measures is underscored by increasing pressures on water resources due to climate change and population growth. England recently experienced its driest spring in over a century and the warmest on record, intensifying concerns about water scarcity and drought frequency. Regulators have directed Thames Water to pursue this adaptive project to ensure resilience in the face of scenarios where customer demand may exceed available supply.

This project is part of a broader national strategy encouraged by Ofwat to improve water supply resilience across the UK. Thames Water’s overall resource management plan also includes other significant initiatives, such as constructing a new reservoir in Oxfordshire and developing a water recycling scheme in West London. Yet, these plans are not without controversy. Environmental campaigners have launched legal challenges against the reservoir project, arguing it poses environmental risks and is costly, advocating instead for potentially less disruptive alternatives like leakage reduction, water transfer schemes, and recycling.

The Severn to Thames Transfer project, therefore, sits at the intersection of technological innovation, environmental stewardship, and regional water security strategy. Thames Water’s collaboration with industry leaders and neighboring water companies aims to balance these complex factors, anticipating more frequent droughts by ensuring that safe, reliable water supplies remain available to millions across southern England.

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Source: Noah Wire Services