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UK's Thames Valley Eyes Massive New Reservoir
28 Sep
Summary
- A 150 billion litre reservoir is planned for the Thames Valley.
- The White Horse Reservoir aims to serve 15 million customers by 2040.
- Water will be sourced from the River Thames during winter months.
Thames Water is advancing plans for the significant White Horse Reservoir in the Thames Valley, with a planning application expected by the end of the year. This facility, designed to hold 150 billion litres of water, is projected to supply water to 15 million customers across the south east of England by 2040.
The estimated cost for this ambitious project ranges between £5.5 billion and £7.5 billion. According to the proposal, the reservoir will be replenished using water from the River Thames during the winter season, when water availability is typically high. This initiative is proceeding despite current low rainfall levels in the Thames Valley, which has only seen 35% of its average precipitation this month, spurring other innovative upstream water harvesting efforts.