Drinking water projects

Protecting the environment while ensuring a plentiful supply

Managing the drinking water network is all about balance. We need to balance the amount of water we store and treat with how much people need, but this isn’t always simple – demand doesn’t stay the same and rainfall varies from year to year.

Climate change and an increasing population add to pressure on the system. There’s also the need to balance the needs of the natural world with the water system – taking water from rivers and reservoirs means there’s less for wildlife.

Our investment programme aims to achieve a stable and balanced water network. On the one hand, storing more water and upgrading water treatment; on the other, reducing leaks and encouraging customers to be careful with what they use, to help manage demand.

To make sure there’s enough water to meet demand in the years ahead, we are investing in the network so we can store and treat more water. We’re also finding and fixing leaks to help avoid wasting this precious resource.

Water mains renewal programme

We are making a significant investment in renewing water mains, with AMP8 projects now underway. This investment will ensure a safer, more resilient water supply for many years to come for customers.

Moving water to where it’s needed

A complex network of pipes and pumps moves clean water around the region to where it’s needed. If demand surges in one place, water can be transferred from miles away.

We’re going one step further and developing a strategic network so water can be transferred across longer distances to top up reservoirs. This will provide an extra level of protection to ensure a plentiful supply of water for customers.

Current projects

Take a look at the projects we're working on across the region to improve the water network.