A new reservoir, new pipelines and a new advanced water recycling centre form part of a transformational £1.5 billion investment plan that Essex & Suffolk Water have outlined in order to ensure the region, the driest in the country, has enough water for residents and businesses.
The water company has set out its Water Resources Management Plan for 2025-30 (WRMP24) which shows how it plans to manage water supply within the region over the next 25 years, including in times of drought.
The plans include reducing household and business water consumption as well as developing new water supply schemes for the two million customers the company serves in it’s operating area.
Outlined within the plan, Essex & Suffolk Water will work to further reduce leakage by 40% by 2050 - already the industry leader for lowest level of leakage, the company will support customers to reduce water usage in every way they can to keep the water flowing and protect supplies.
New supply schemes include a new water treatment works, a winter storage reservoir and a new pipeline scheme. The company will also be introducing compulsory metering - 70% of customers already have a water meter - and replacing all existing meters with a smart meter to help customers and businesses use water more efficiently.
As one of the driest areas in the UK, this will help to secure future drinking water supplies and help to protect the local wildlife.
Kieran Ingram, Water Director at Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “This plan sets out everything we hope to achieve over the next 25 years to provide a reliable and resilient service for our customers for generations to come.
“We are already working on improvements to our system, with new pipelines being laid to connect all our water resource zones, a new treated water storage reservoir, a new nitrate removal process at our River Waveney water treatment works near Beccles, and a new water reuse scheme near Lowestoft.
“It’s important to us that we do what’s right for our customers and the environment. We are looking forward to seeing what the impact that this has on our customers, our stakeholders and the local environment.”
Improvements outlined within the plan between 2025 and 2035 include:
In Essex:
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A new water treatment works in south Essex to further increase supply resilience.
In Suffolk:
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Two new strategic drinking water pipelines
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Two new drinking water storage reservoirs
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A water reuse (i.e. advanced water recycling) scheme to support river flows
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Compulsory smart metering - 70% of customers already have a water meter - and replacing all existing meters with a smart meter to help customers and businesses use water more efficiently.
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Ambitious leakage reduction and water efficiency programmes
New schemes in the Suffolk region planned for between 2035 and 2045 include:
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A new winter storage reservoir
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An additional advanced water recycling scheme
Essex and Suffolk Water is adopting low-carbon options where possible, such as building a new reservoir in North Suffolk and embracing nature-based solutions as a priority.
Essex & Suffolk Water are also working closely with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and other partners to educate businesses and customers in Suffolk about the challenges facing future water supply. The company is a key partner in the Suffolk Business Water Group, which has been set up to allow businesses to identify and share best practice regarding water efficiency, water re-use and recycling.
This is in response to earlier this year the water company announced a non-domestic moratorium to ensure they can meet all future demands for mains water while protecting the environment. Alongside a planned investment of £1.5 billion throughout 2025 – 2030, the moratorium which restricts water usage by non-domestic customers to protect domestic customer supply will be reviewed in 2030.
To review the plan in full, go to - Water Resources Management Plan