Second reservoir 'will help satisfy thirst for fresh sources of water'

A SECOND Cheddar reservoir will play a vital role in ensuring England has all the water it needs over the coming decades, the Environment Agency (EA) has stated.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist [e-mail]

A report by the EA published on June 17 warned that England faces a shortfall of five billion litres a day of public water by 2055 without urgent action by the government and water companies.

Environment secretary Steve Reed MP announced on May 29 that nine new reservoirs would be built across the UK by 2050 - including the 'Cheddar Two' reservoir south of the exist-ing facility in Somerset.

South West Water has confirmed its intentions to pursue this facility, with public consultation expected to begin later this year and a planning application due to come forward by 2027.

The predicted shortfall amounts to a third of England's currently daily use enough to fill Wembley Stadium four-and-a-half times with a further one billion litres per day being needed for industrial purposes.

The EA estimates that the West Country as a whole will require an additional 260 million litres of water per day between 2030 and 2055.

Of this, 182 million litres will be needed for environmental improve-ments, 85 million litres to account for population growth (or migration from other areas), 20 million litres to offset climate change and five million litres set aside for drought resilience.

On top of all this, an additional 222 million litres per day will be required for industry (such as food and drink production, metal production and the chemicals industry), agriculture and power generation.