Thames Water are developing a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) to find ways to adapt to our changing climate, supply water to more people as our population grows and reduce the amount of water we take from our rivers to protect the environment. Further to the launch of the plan in December 2022, there will be a briefing at Walbrook Wharf, 20 Cousin Lane, Blackfriars at 2:00pm on 28 February 2023. It is anticipated that the presentation and Q&A would last for about two hours.

As you may be aware The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) published a report in 2018 ‘Preparing for a drier future’ which set out the significant challenges we face on water supply and the need to take action. This work prompted the first National Framework for Water Resources published by the Environment Agency in 2020 which requires water companies to collaborate to develop plans that consider their regional water needs. Five regional groups were set up and tasked with developing plans for a secure and sustainable water supply in their region, and also that the regional plans should then fit together to provide a joined-up national solution.

Over the past two years Thames Water has been working closely with Water Resources South East (WRSE) and the other five water companies across the SE region, regulators, stakeholders and customers to ensure that there is an effective regional plan for this area. The regional plan will deliver an appropriate level of drought resilience for the long term and combine demand management, including reducing leakage, and long term investment in water supply infrastructure. The regional plans are also crucial to support climate change resilience. WRSE published the draft SE regional plan for consultation in November 2021, click here to read the plan and join in the consultation, which ends on 20 February 2023. The SE regional plan has informed our draft statutory WRMP, the website setting out our plans is available at https://thames-wrmp.co.uk where you can also respond to our consultation, which ends on 21 March 2023.

If you would like to attend the proposed briefing please can you respond by email to Phil.Stride@thameswater.co.uk .