UK
Thames Water accused of hiding problems with emergency plant

Emma Gatten
Thu, 4 August 2022

The company's desalination plant is meant to provide water to nearly one million people in case of drought, but will be switched off until at least next year - Jamie Lorriman

The Environment Agency (EA) on Thursday accused Thames Water of hiding problems at its emergency back-up plant that is meant to protect thousands of households from drought.

Thames Water only informed the EA that their desalination plant was not working on July 20, the day after the UK hit a record 40C temperature, Whitehall sources told The Telegraph.

The desalination plant, which was built to provide drinking water to nearly one million people and cost bill payers £250 million, was on Thursday revealed to be switched off despite a looming hosepipe ban across the capital.

But officials threatened regulatory action after the water company earlier this year gave assurances that the plant could be used during shortages in drought plans submitted to the EA.

It comes as the first restrictions will be introduced across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday with millions of households banned from using their hosepipes, filling paddling pools or switching on their water fountains.

The Met Office on Thursday said there was “very little meaningful rain” forecast for the driest parts of the country in the South East.

Police chiefs warned that encouraging neighbours to report on one another for breaching the hosepipe ban could lead to disorder that will create extra work for the forces.

Questions over the water companies’ management during the drought has developed into a political row, with both Tory leadership candidates vowing to tackle poor performance over leakage.
‘We should not need to rely on hosepipe bans’

The Government is under pressure to get a grip on the looming drought crisis, which could see swathes of the country put under water restrictions.

Labour on Thursday accused the Government of failing to anticipate and plan for an “entirely predictable” crisis.

“In a country with plenty of rain outside of midsummer, we should not need to rely on hosepipe bans to get us through the dry months,” Jim McMahon, the shadow environment secretary said.

The plant in Beckton was built in 2010 to provide drinking water for 900,000 Londoners in case of drought or water shortages. But it has never been run at full capacity and will be switched off until at least next year.

The plant cost bill payers £250 million - Jamie Lorriman

The Environment Agency has told Thames Water to come up with ways to cut more household demand to offset the loss of the plant, and asked it to explain why the plant will be under maintenance for so long.

Failure to maintain the facilities needed for a drought could affect the company’s performance rating.

Government sources on Thursday said it was “baffling” that Thames Water had failed to fix issues at the plant over the last decade.

Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, held talks on Thursday with Thames Water to put pressure on the company to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

“Customers who have paid for this facility expect it to deliver what was promised,” said Karen Gibbs, of the Consumer Council for Water.

Thames Water was approached for comment.