Southern Water has announced plans to potentially import up to 45 million litres of water per day from Norway as a contingency measure for extreme drought conditions projected for the early 2030s. This controversial proposal involves transporting water sourced from melting glaciers via tankers, as reported by the Financial Times.
The move comes in response to growing fears regarding the sustainability of water services in the UK, especially after severe droughts in the summer of 2022, which brought some regions perilously close to running out of water. In light of these challenges, Southern Water has initiated “early-stage” discussions with the Extreme Drought Resilience Service, a private UK company specializing in water supply via sea tanker. According to reports, the costs for this initiative would be covered by customer bills.
Southern Water serves regions including Hampshire, Kent, East and West Sussex, and the Isle of Wight, primarily relying on groundwater and scarce chalk streams for its water supply. However, the Environment Agency (EA) has cautioned the company against its heavy dependence on these sources, citing environmental concerns and the potential exacerbation of drought risks.
The water supply industry has faced increasing scrutiny over issues such as sewage spills and rising consumer costs, with households expected to see an average bill increase of 21% over the next five years. Regulator Ofwat has highlighted that approximately 20% of water is lost to leaks in the infrastructure, prompting calls for companies to enhance their systems.
In a report earlier this year, the EA noted that Southern Water, alongside Anglian Water, Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water, accounted for over 90% of serious pollution incidents. Following criticism regarding sewage discharges, Southern Water’s chief executive Lawrence Gosden attributed these issues to “too much rain” in 2023 during an interview with ITV News.
The company has indicated a shortfall of 166 million litres per day in Hampshire during future droughts. To combat this, Southern Water is already working on the UK’s first new reservoir in over 30 years, located in Havant Thicket.
Critics, including Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist Dr. Doug Parr, have condemned the proposal to import water from Norway. He argued that the firm should prioritize improving domestic water management rather than resorting to costly and carbon-intensive alternatives. Dr. Parr emphasized the need for water companies to recognize potable fresh water as a limited resource and plan accordingly.
Southern Water’s managing director for water, Tim McMahon, reassured stakeholders that the importation plan would only be a last-resort measure in response to severe drought emergencies, and the company remains committed to collaborating with regulators to develop effective solutions for water scarcity while safeguarding the environment.