Water companies in drought-hit Britain have flogged 35 reservoirs in five years – and built just TWO. Amid hosepipe bans and coastal sewage dumping they have made at least £26million from the sales.
Old reservoirs have been converted for uses such as fishing and housing – and some are a haven for BMX fans. A union which uncovered the deals said: “The water industry is not fit for purpose.”
The news comes days after water firms dumped raw sewage on to 50 beaches as creaking systems failed to handle heavy rain after a long spell of drought – which experts now forecast could resume and last until autumn.
It was also revealed that more than a trillion litres of water was lost via leaky pipes in England and Wales last year. Environmentalists have pushed for better infrastructure – such as more reservoirs and storage tanks.
The GMB union says companies have sold off 232 properties in England and Wales since 2017. These included 35 ex-reservoirs of which, the union estimates, 10 were in use until recently.
Providers are obliged to stop using some reservoirs more than 100 years old. But just two small reservoirs have been opened in that time – a storm tank in Preston, Lancs and a contact tank in Oswestry, Shrops.
Southern Water is due to decommission 43 of 93 Victorian reservoirs by 2030. A 2018 report suggests it plans to add only two new reservoirs by 2025.
Andy Prendergast of the GMB said: “Reservoirs were built with public money but since the industry was privatised we’ve seen a lack of investment. They’re run for the interests of shareholders. Lack of capacity means less storage for sewage, leading to more dumping.”
Among 35 sites sold were Sadberge Reservoir near Darlington, Westwood Reservoir, Wilts, and Plumstead Common Reservoir in London.
In 2012 it emerged that Thames Water had sold 25 reservoirs since the 1980s. One disused complex in Cheshunt. Herts, made way for 249 flats.
Water UK said firms had completed major schemes in recent decades “to improve the resilience of water supplies” and added: “New reservoirs are subject to lengthy scrutiny from regulators... one new reservoir – Havant Thicket – is due to be completed by the end of this decade, and companies have made a further 18 proposals.”
