The government is fast-tracking the construction of two new reservoirs as part of plans to defend the UK’s water supplies from the possibility of climate change-induced droughts.
Reservoirs, which collect and store water, are essential to keep water supply reliable and consistent even during dry weather. However, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, no new reservoirs have been delivered since 1992.
In 2023, the UK experienced the driest February for 30 years, which was then followed by the wettest March for 40 years. This prompted the government’s National Drought Group to urge water companies to improve their plans to tackle future drought.
In the same year, research from Kingfisher suggested that a number of regions in the South of England are facing “severe water stress” as early as 2030.
This government has committed to fast-tracking the delivery of nine new reservoirs in total, with the first two projects located in East Anglia and Lincolnshire. They...