Ofwat has given its approval for 15 long-term resilience schemes as part of the Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) that include making greater use of canals and creating reservoirs.
Schemes have been put forward in joint projects from Affinity, Anglian, Cambridge (South Staffs), Severn Trent, Southern, South West, Thames, United Utilities and Wessex.
The 15 proposals from nine water companies will now progress to the next stage of scrutiny before assessment at the second gate in October 2022 to determine what continued support is required. The schemes are intended to be ready for construction to start in AMP8 from 2025-2030.
Paul Hickey, RAPID managing director, said: “Making sure the water sector is prepared and planning for our changing climate is essential. Ofwat’s approach of allowing nearly £500 million of funding to find innovative and effective solutions, and doing so with real collaboration across companies and regulators, is a landmark shift and could unlock meaningful innovation and secure services for customers of the future and protect the natural environment.
He stressed the need to find sustainable routes to resilience in the face of the climate emergency.
“The collaboration across all parties has worked well during this assessment process and we’re happy that the partnership is making good progress,” Hickey added.
The proposals approved for progression include six schemes involving Affinity collaborating with Severn Trent on the Grand Union canal transfer and Minworth effluent reuse. It will work with Thames on a strategic reservoir and a transfer into Affinity’s region, as well as with Anglian on a transfer and reservoir project.
Anglian was also approved for its Fenland Reservoir project, with Cambridge Water.
Thames will progress with its London Effluent Reuse scheme that would see sewage treated and recycled to be used as a raw water resource again.
Wessex, South West and Southern have two connected inter-region transfer schemes to move surplus water from the south west companies to Southern’s catchment.
Thames and Southern will progress with water transfer plans from Thames’ region to Southern’s Hampshire zone that will link with other RAPID transfer schemes.
United Utilities’ aqueduct will progress as well as its project to develop new water resource options to feed into the transfer schemes.
Ofwat will publish its final decision on 16 November following a period of consultation.
Southern is also involved in three accelerated RAPID schemes that progressed one year ahead of this round to reflect the severity of water resourcing issues in its western region. These are due to progress to the second gate this month.
The alliance is formed of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate with support from Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and CCW to jointly identify and overcome barriers to progress.