Thames Water plans to seek permission by year-end for the 150-billion-litre White Horse Reservoir near Abingdon, which would draw winter water from the Thames and serve 15 million customers in south-east England by 2040. It is estimated to cost £5.5bn to £7.5bn.
The Evenload Landscape Recovery programme involves 240 farmers and has received £100m from Defra over 20 years. Its soil-management work is intended to help more rain soak into the limestone, replenishing natural underground reservoirs; the programme also aims to improve flood resilience and biodiversity.
Programme director Tim Field said reservoir construction alone cannot secure water supplies if taking water from rivers leaves them dry, and argued that the natural underground reservoir beneath the Cotswolds also needs care. Thames Water says water security is a key reason for the proposed reservoir. The Thames Valley had received 35% of its average rainfall so far this month. Thames Water said rainfall across its region from March to August was less than half normal, with groundwater and soil moisture significantly below average. Oxford’s Farmoor Reservoir storage was 75% below average for this time of year.
