Securing a sustainable water future for the South East
Environment Secretary Steve Reed visited Havant Thicket reservoir, which will help future-proof water supply in the South East.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed
People in the South East will soon benefit from a more reliable and sustainable water supply with the construction of the Havant Thicket reservoir 바카라 사이트“ the first reservoir to be built in the region since the 1970s.
Visiting the site near Havant, Hampshire, today (12 March), Environment Secretary Steve Reed highlighted the reservoir as a prime example of how £104 billion in private sector investment into water바카라 사이트”the largest since privatisation바카라 사이트”is driving forward major infrastructure projects and creating over 30,000 jobs across the country.
This is part of delivering on the government바카라 사이트™s Plan for Change, which will support the infrastructure Britain needs to boost growth, construct 1.5 million new homes, and clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good.   Â
By 2030 South East England is projected to face severe water stress due to population growth, climate change and environmental pressures. This could lead to shortfalls unless urgent action is taken to improve water efficiency and build new infrastructure, so projects like Havant Thicket, which will store 8.7 billion litres of water, are essential.Â
When full, the reservoir will supply an average of 21 million litres of water a day, enough water to supply an estimated 160,000 people.
The reservoir, which will be built on a grassland site in between Rowlands Castle, Leigh Park and Staunton Country Park is being developed by Portsmouth Water in collaboration with바카라 사이트¯Southern Water, who is funding the project. As well as protecting some of Hampshire바카라 사이트™s rare chalk streams, it will also provide a leisure facility for the local community.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:Â
The UK faces a water shortage because we haven바카라 사이트™t built a new reservoir in over 30 years 바카라 사이트“ Havant Thicket is a crucial step in securing water for future generations.Â
Investment in vital infrastructure like reservoirs is crucial for economic growth and environmental protection 바카라 사이트“ a cornerstone of our Plan for Change.
The reservoir builds on action taken by the Environment Agency to reduce the extraction of water from the Rivers Test and Itchen 바카라 사이트“ protecting local wetlands.Â
The Environment Secretary바카라 사이트™s visit to Havant Thicket is the latest in a series of visits that he and Water Minister Emma Hardy are making on a 바카라 사이트˜Things Can Only Get Cleaner바카라 사이트™ tour this week, to see where investment in water infrastructure will underpin the building of new homes, create jobs, and turbocharge local economies.    Â
Transformative change is already well under way, driven by bold reforms and decisive action, including the ground-breaking Water (Special Measures) Act, which will ban bonuses for water executives who pollute, and the newly established Independent Water Commission, tasked with overhauling the water sector to ensure accountability and sustainability from the ground up.