Anglian Water has set out how it will spend £630 million this year, with a focus on leakage, resilience, water efficiency and community support.
The company is making its largest investment for a single year to improve river quality, continue towards its net zero goal, and to prepare the typically dry region for climate change and population growth.
Last month the company received a redetermination from the Competition and Markets Authority of its business plan for 2020-25. The CMA, faced with new evidence, permitted additional spending for certain projects within AMP7.
One such project was the interconnector scheme which this year will see £59 million spent to start the project. The hundreds of kilometres of pipeline will move water around the region between Ancaster and Lincoln to minimise future drought risks. The CMA provided Anglian with its full requested allowance for this scheme.
Elsewhere £30 million will be invested in the water metering rollout programme to install and upgrade domestic meters to help consumers understand and reduce their usage. The CMA did not support all of Anglian’s requested funding for its smart rollout programme.
The company will spend £133 million on removing chemicals such as phosphates and ammonia from used water to enhance and protect waterways including chalk streams.
A further £19 million will be spent on efforts to drive down leakage including using satellite imagery and fibre optic technology to find and fix leaks.
Peter Simpson, chief executive for Anglian, said: “There is much for us to be positive about in planning for a better future for our region – this is the biggest investment we’ve ever made in a 12-month period and it comes after what has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone. Our customers can be reassured that every pound they’ve paid us so far has been invested in doing the right thing.
“We’ll continue working hard towards our goals for improving resilience against climate change, ensuring the highest standards of water quality, delivering industry leading performance on leakage, supporting local communities and protecting the environment we all share.
Through the Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) Anglian intends to bring forward proposals to address future water scarcity in its region.