In the current severe drought that’s impacting parts of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, many customers ask why we don't simply build more reservoirs to store more water. It’s an understandable question. And the short answer is that we are creating new resource – but building more water storage is only part of the solution, and creating new reservoirs is more challenging than you might think.
Let’s take a look at some of the challenges and opportunities of building new reservoirs.
Being strategic about water
We make detailed plans to understand future water resource needs. We look at things like population growth and climate change along with water efficiency, how much water is lost to leaks and whether the way we remove water from the natural environment could have any negative impacts.
Water is part of a complex and interconnected system that involves water companies, rivers, reservoirs, energy systems, farms, businesses and communities. Something that happens in one region can impact people in another area.
We plan strategically to consider new reservoirs along with other options that can improve the resilience of the network, such as pipelines to transfer water between regions, water recycling schemes and storage facilities that increase our reserves.
A national picture of reservoir building
It has been 30 years since a new reservoir was built in the UK. Making sure we have enough water for the future is a challenge for the whole country, not just our region. That is why a range of water-supply projects, including reservoirs, have been identified as priority projects to help speed up their delivery.
Building a reservoir is a major undertaking. It requires a large site with the right underlying soil and rock structures, and the right connections to rivers and roads so heavy machinery can access the site to build the reservoir.
Getting planning permission can take many years. The project must go through a number of important steps. These include assessing environmental impacts, gaining planning permission, working with regulators and landowners, and consulting with local communities. There is a lot of work to do before construction of the reservoir begins.
Creating new water storage resource
We may not have built a brand new reservoir, but over the past 20 years, we have repurposed three former quarry pits at Park Lake, Stannon Lake and Blackpool Quarry, and acquired Hawks Tor, a disused quarry that can be used during drought.
Repurposing these sites for water storage provides a quicker way to strengthen our network than building entirely new reservoirs. Together, they can provide up to 24 million litres of additional drinking water a day. They also provide invaluable natural habitats to support wildlife.
Our approach to new reservoirs
We’re committed to building a new reservoir in Cheddar that will have the capacity to supply 20 million litres of water to the South West region. This is one of nine proposed reservoirs planned across England by 2050.
The Cheddar 2 project is proceeding as fast as it can. It’s important that we take time to do all the environmental assessments, design testing, consultation and planning that are needed to make it a success.
We’re also exploring options at a regional level, including with neighbouring water companies as part of the West Country Water and Environment regional group.
Managing supply and demand
Climate change has made weather patterns much more difficult to predict in the UK. We’re starting to see wetter winters and much drier, longer summers than we used to, especially in the South West. We need to adapt to these changes by ensuring we can capture and store more water in the wetter seasons to see us through summer heatwaves. Strategic reservoirs will be part of the solution to this challenge, alongside measures like reducing leakage, improving water efficiency and optimising network resource so we can move water between different areas.
Customer demand is an important piece of the puzzle. Currently, demand for water increases when it’s hot. If the heat is accompanied by long periods without rain, this can reduce our water reserves significantly. It really helps if customers use water wisely.
How you can help
We’re investing in the water network to boost storage and increase resilience, but demand for water is another part of the puzzle.
In the current severe drought, you can help by saving water wherever you can to give our reservoirs the best chance of recovery. Every Drop Counts.
See our water-saving tips pages for suggestions of how to save water at home.