FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water Page 3 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water Contents Section 1: 4 A recap of what Water Resources in the South East is, why it was formed, and what the region looks like today. Section 2: 8 What we’ve achieved so far and where we are now – including the challenges we face and what we’re doing to address them. Section 3: 12 Our modelling work to future proof water supplies through a regional strategy – and what it could mean for customers, the environment and water companies. Section 4: 22 What happens next – and how you can get involved in Water Resources in the South East as we evolve our work. Page 3 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water Section 1: Review Welcome However, everyone responsible for securing water supplies in the south east realises the scale of the Welcome to “From Source To Tap: The south east challenges but also the potential opportunities. strategy for water”. That’s why our latest strategy – which looks 60 years This document is the culmination of ground-breaking ahead and at a range of plausible “what if?” scenarios collaboration and technical work to develop an – drives even greater collaboration, particularly among affordable, sustainable and resilient regional water companies, to deliver the region’s needs for strategy for water – one that delivers for customers, water. We really are all in this together. society and the environment. As a result, we have identified a mix of long-term The aim of our work is simple; to find better or new solutions that will offer the best value for customers, 1 ways of sharing water by using existing sources, pipes society and the environment. Please read on to find 4 and treatment works and developing new sources of out how we are planning ahead to keep our taps 2 3 5 water and bigger, longer pipelines to move it further flowing and our water habitats healthy – whatever the around our region. challenge, whatever the weather. 1. Ian McAulay, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Water Equally important is our work to reduce the amount 2. Paul Butler, Managing Director, South East Water 3. Simon Cocks, Chief Executive Officer, Affinity Water of water that is lost or wasted so there is more to go 4. Anthony Ferrar, Managing Director, SES Water around – whether it’s finding and fixing more leaks on 5. Steve Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Thames Water 6 the pipe network, or encouraging customers to use less 6. Neville Smith, Managing Director, Portsmouth Water through metering programmes and ambitious water efficiency initiatives. That’s important, as much of the south east region is officially designated as being in serious water stress. It’s also a region where there are potentially greater pressures and challenges than those faced by other regions in the UK – more people in expanding towns and cities; relatively low rainfall but higher water use by people; and environmental pressures to keep more This document has been produced using a waterless water in its natural home e.g. our rivers, rare chalk printing technique on 100% recycled paper. streams and underground aquifers. Page 4 Page 5 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water KEY FACTS Setting the scene Supporting economic growth: Water Resources in the South East is a sector-wide The south east region is worth partnership that, over the last 20 years, has been £627 billion to the UK economy developing a south east strategy for water. Our work is (30% of total) and has the highest refreshed, and the strategy updated, every five years. employment rate (79%) of all the UK regions. We were formed in 1996 as a direct result of a recommendation from the old Monopolies and Mergers Business-focussed region: Commission which (in reviewing a proposed merger of London and the south east have two small water companies in Kent) suggested there nearly two million businesses, almost should be better regional co-operation when it came to as many as all the other UK regions sharing water. combined. But the commercial landscape is changing too, with over 150 English Wine Water Resources in the South East identified where, Producer Member vineyards now taking root. when and how water could be shared and moved around. The result? Four brand new transfers between water companies sharing up to 33 million litres of water Popular tourist destination: a day. From cities and cultural centres to dramatic coastlines and downland Today we are still going strong. Water Resources the region has it all – which is why in the South East has expanded to include London over 30 million visits were made in 2016, and the Home Counties with six water companies generating over £5.5 billion for the tourist – Affinity Water, South East Water, Southern Water, economy. SES Water, Portsmouth Water and Thames Water – working alongside the Environment Agency, Ofwat, the Consumer Council for Water, Natural England, the Investing in water: Having the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs right infrastructure services is a vital (Defra), the Canal and River Trust and the Greater enabler for economic and social London Authority. health. Over the last 20 years the region’s water companies have invested many The group also looks further afield, working with billions of pounds – and will continue to invest neighbouring regions of the UK and their water to support the delivery of services to 4.1 million companies to explore inter-regional water transfers. more people by 2045 living in the south east. Crucially, Water Resources in the South East has been We have also supported the industry’s efforts to reduce the catalyst for the region now having its very own water demand for water through metering, leak detection and Making water go further: Over grid with almost 60 transfers – within and between water efficiency initiatives; and become an exemplar of one billion litres of water is moved water companies – moving over 100 million litres of best practice collaboration and consistency in planning every day through 82,000km of water every day. for water. pipes; and over 100 million litres of that is already shared between water companies. Page 4 Page 5 150 litres 50%+ 6 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water Banbury 150 Saffron Walden litres 2 million businesses Section 1: Review Stevenage Luton Aylesbury Where we are now: the south east region at a glance Harlow Oxford The south east is one of the fastest growing regional economies; Cirencester culturally rich and diverse with its major cities, seaside towns and rural hamlets; and is where farming and the natural environment are 50%+ intimately linked. Swindon 150 Maidenhead Here are some of the things that make the south east region what it litres is today: London • Six water companies supply water to 19 million customers and Chatham Margate 2 million businesses 6 Reading • Normal demand for water is five billion litres a day – but can go up to 19 million Woking Maidstone Canterbury nearly six billion litres a day when it’s hot customers Basingstoke • More than half of the region’s water – and up to 85% in some Andover Redhill places – comes from underground aquifers. These rely on there being Tunbridge Wells Dover enough winter rainfall to fill them up to meet higher demand for water 50%+ Crawley Winchester the following spring and summer • Over a quarter (26%) of the region is designated an Area of Horsham Outstanding Natural Beauty; while National Parks make up 8% of the region 150 6 Southampton litres • There’s 700 miles of coastline Hastings • The region has eight key rivers – the Thames, Lee, Medway, Great billion litres Chichester SES Water Stour, Rother, Arun, Ouse and Itchen which support dozens more a day Worthing Brighton Eastbourne Southern Water smaller tributaries and streams. Portsmouth Affinity Water Portsmouth Water Thames Water 50%+ South East Water Page 6 Page 7 6 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water 150 litres Banbury Saffron Walden SERIOUS WATER STRESS DESIGNATION £627 billion Stevenage In 2007 most of the south east was officially designated by the Environment Agency as being in Luton serious water stress. Aylesbury That means current and future demand for water makes Harlow up a significantly high proportion of the rainfall that we can Oxford expect to fill our rivers and underground aquifers, ready Cirencester 50%+ 8 to meet that demand for water. Consequently, it’s a tight main rivers balancing act to meet the water needs of the region’s 150 customers, society and the economy without over- vineyards exploiting the environment where that water comes from. Swindon Maidenhead The designation also reflects the reality of the region’s recent past and present; the south east has experienced London 6 Chatham Margate more droughts – albeit different in type, duration and Reading seriousness – than other parts of the UK. These droughts happened in 1972-73, 1975-76, 1984, Woking Maidstone Canterbury 1989-91, 1995-97, 2003, 2005-06, 2011-12 and 2017 Basingstoke (in some parts of the region). Andover Redhill Tunbridge Wells Dover Crawley Winchester 21,000km2 area Horsham Southampton 150 Hastings litres Chichester SES Water Worthing Brighton Eastbourne Portsmouth Southern Water Affinity Water Portsmouth Water 26% AONB Thames Water South East 50%+Water Page 6 Page 7 6 FROM SOURCE TO TAP: The south east strategy for water Section 2: Resilience today The challenges we face in the south east This could could result in 100 million litres a day more water being left in its natural home – which means Housing and population growth finding smarter ways of making up any shortfall in the water we also need for homes and businesses.