Southern Water Warns of Potential Water Shortages by 2034

2 min read | September 27, 2024 01:45 PM AEST | By Team Kalkine Media

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Southern Water Warns of Potential Water Shortages by 2034 — Image source: shutterstock

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Highlights

Southern Water warns of potential shortages: The company indicates customers could face water scarcity by 2034 without significant supply measures.

Plans include importing water from Norway: Southern Water is considering a last-resort option to import water from Norwegian fjords via sea tankers.

Customer bills set to rise: Ofwat has provisionally approved a 44% increase in bills over the next five years to support infrastructure improvements.

Southern Water, the regional water supplier for Kent, Hampshire, and Sussex, has issued a stark warning that its customers could face water shortages by 2034 without significant measures to increase supply. In its latest draft water resources management plan, the company outlined several contingency strategies in response to anticipated population growth and climate change challenges.

Currently supplying 565 million liters of drinking water daily across the region, Southern Water anticipates that demand could rise by an additional 587 million liters by the 2050s. The company, owned by Australian investment firm Macquarie, faced significant scrutiny in recent years after a £90 million sewage pollution fine nearly led to its collapse in 2021.

Southern Water's management highlighted the dual challenge of ensuring adequate water supply for one of the UK's fastest-growing populations while protecting sensitive natural habitats. The plan emphasizes the need to leave more water in the environment to safeguard ecosystems, which may be further strained by increasing drought conditions resulting from climate change.

In the event of a drought, the company forecasts a potential shortfall of 166 million liters per day in Hampshire alone. To mitigate this risk, Southern Water has proposed several measures, including upgrades to treatment facilities and the construction of new reservoirs. One notable and controversial option being considered is the importation of up to 45 million liters of water per day from Norwegian fjords via sea tankers. This last-resort measure aims to ensure resilient water supplies during droughts in the early 2030s.

The company is reportedly in discussions with a private firm, Extreme Drought Resilience Service, regarding the logistics of shipping water sourced from Norwegian glacial melts. This initiative highlights a growing trend among UK water companies, with several exploring similar contingency plans to bolster supply during times of scarcity.

Additionally, the regulatory body Ofwat has provisionally approved a 44% increase in customer bills over the next five years to help fund necessary infrastructure improvements. As Southern Water grapples with these challenges, the urgency to secure sustainable water resources has never been clearer.

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