What is the Broad Oak Water project?

Broad Oak Water is a proposed new reservoir near Canterbury, planned by South East Water to store approximately five billion litres of water.

When is the consultation for the new Kent reservoir closing?

The public consultation for the Broad Oak Water reservoir proposal is open until March 18.

Why is South East Water building a new reservoir?

The reservoir is intended to protect chalk streams in Kent and help the company adapt to climate change by capturing and storing water following rainfall events.

Home / Environment / Kent Reservoir Plan: Water Security or Costly Gamble?

Kent Reservoir Plan: Water Security or Costly Gamble?

4 Feb

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Summary

A new reservoir is proposed near Canterbury to store five billion litres of water.
The project aims to protect chalk streams and adapt to climate change impacts.
Consultation on the reservoir plan is open until March 18, with construction potentially starting in 2031.

Kent Reservoir Plan: Water Security or Costly Gamble?

South East Water has unveiled early-stage plans for a significant new reservoir, named Broad Oak Water, situated near Canterbury in Kent. This proposed facility is designed to store approximately five billion litres of water, a development announced shortly after thousands of residents experienced water supply disruptions, some for the second time in six weeks.

Documents detail potential locations for pumping stations, a treatment works, and options for public access and habitat creation. Head of water resources, Nick Price, indicated that the Broad Oak site is among the few viable locations for reservoir construction in the region. Several sites near West Stourmouth have been identified for water intake from rivers, with two potential routes for transporting water to Broad Oak and a proposed pipeline to the Blean Service Reservoir.