大象传媒

Water firm publishes plan for next half century

A person filling a glass with water from a kitchen tap.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

South East Water has published its 50-year plan to keep homes supplied

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South East Water has published its plan to keep homes supplied for the next 50 years.

The company, which has 2.3m customers across Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire, has promised to reduce leaks and invest in new reservoirs and desalination and recycling plants.

Included in the Water Resources Management Plan is a proposal to , near Canterbury, which will hold over 5,000 million litres.

In an interview with 大象传媒 South East in August, chief executive David Hinton said the supplier had been "caught on the hop" by the pace of climate change.

Nick Price, head of water resources, said: 鈥淥ur ability to supply water is under increasing pressure due to a growing population, climate change and new laws to protect the environment.

鈥淭hese plans are very much long-term and have taken into account the extreme weather we have experienced in recent years and the changing pattern we have seen in the demand for water.

鈥淭he wide-ranging plan has been guided by extensive research, detailed data, customer involvement, and engagement with stakeholders and other interested parties.鈥

Image source, South East Water
Image caption,

South East Water's plans include a new reservoir at Broad Oak

The company is promising to invest 拢2.3bn in the next 50 years - 拢1.2bn of that on infrastructure and 拢1.1bn to reduce leaks by half by 2075.

The full plan can be viewed on South East Water's

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