Water Resources South East reports mixed response to its plan

More than 80% of respondents to Water Resources South East’s (WRSE) emerging regional water resources plan disagreed that the emerging plan, which presents the most cost-efficient adaptive planning solution, should be used as the basis to further develop WRSE’s draft best value regional plan.

The group explained that many who disagreed opposed the construction of a major reservoir at Abingdon (SESRO), with others opposing the Havant Thicket water recycling option, or expressing that they wished to see the Severn Thames Transfer canal option brought forward and prioritised ahead of SESRO.

Among those who agreed that the emerging plan should form the basis for the best value plan, there was particular support for the focus on environmental ambition and demand management measures; for the long term approach being taken; and for the need to ensure plans could adapt to future uncertainty. WRSE received a staggering 1,150 responses to the consultation, covering a huge array of responses. Among the headlines were:

• more than half of responses focused on specific water resources options being considered - such as new reservoirs, water transfers and water recycling schemes – many expressed concern about these schemes and potential environmental impacts;

• there was support for the adaptive planning approach adopted;

• the significant leakage and demand reduction included in the plan were positively received, as was increased environmental protection through abstraction being brought down, but many were concerned about the level of reliance in the plan on reducing demand for water;

• many said factors beyond cost (environmental and social) should be incorporated into the plan;

• some expressed concern over lack of detail on the impact on customer bills given the level of uncertainty in play, and questioned whether the plan was affordable –  others didn’t consider cost should be the defining factor, instead supporting long-term environmental benefits; and

• some supported the proposals in the plan but wanted everything done more urgently, including demand management and leakage reduction.

WRSE will use the feedback to inform its Draft Best Value Regional Plan, which will be published for consultation on 14 November 2022, alongside the draft Water Resources Management Plans of five member water companies. The group will make more detailed information available as part of this autumn consultation, including on bill impacts, costs, carbon and environmental assessments.

The group commented: “WRSE recognises that its regional plan will not meet the approval of all of its stakeholders, especially as there will be numerous new water resources options proposed within the plan in order to meet the scale of future challenges that the region is facing, and there will be opposition and concerns relating to a number of them. WRSE is committed to working with affected stakeholders, both through the regional planning process, and through the six water companies individual work on their WRMPs.

"This work, together with subsequent applications for planning and other consents, will provide a means to ensure that the potential environmental and other impacts associated with new water resource options will be fully explored, with necessary mitigation measures secured as part of the schemes.”