This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/5343646.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Reservoir 'biggest in 25 years' | Reservoir 'biggest in 25 years' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Britain's "leakiest" water supplier Thames Water has announced plans to build a £1bn reservoir to meet increased water demand. | Britain's "leakiest" water supplier Thames Water has announced plans to build a £1bn reservoir to meet increased water demand. |
| Thames said the site near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, would be the biggest built in the UK in 25 years, holding 150 billion litres of water. | Thames said the site near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, would be the biggest built in the UK in 25 years, holding 150 billion litres of water. |
| The plan could mean customers paying more for their water, while some people could be forced to move home. | The plan could mean customers paying more for their water, while some people could be forced to move home. |
| Water watchdog Ofwat has described Thames as the UK's leakiest supplier. | Water watchdog Ofwat has described Thames as the UK's leakiest supplier. |
| THAMES WATER Population supplied: 8mDaily supply: 2,822m litresMains pipe: 31,416kmLeakage: 895m litres/day (253 litres/property/day)Supply source: 83% surface, 17% ground. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456972/html/nn5page1.stm" class="">Guide: drought in England href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/5086298.stm" class="">Water calculator | |
| The reservoir, planned for farmland near Abingdon, would supply an extra 350 million litres of water a day. | The reservoir, planned for farmland near Abingdon, would supply an extra 350 million litres of water a day. |
| Despite its huge size - it would hold about half the volume of water of Lake Windermere - the amount falls far short of the estimated 900 million litres a day being lost through leaky pipes under the streets of London. | Despite its huge size - it would hold about half the volume of water of Lake Windermere - the amount falls far short of the estimated 900 million litres a day being lost through leaky pipes under the streets of London. |
| Thames Water said the plan meant customers would have to pay higher prices, or face an increased risk in hosepipe bans and water restrictions. | Thames Water said the plan meant customers would have to pay higher prices, or face an increased risk in hosepipe bans and water restrictions. |
| People living between the villages of East Hanney and Steventon would be affected, with the company warning of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) on some homes. | People living between the villages of East Hanney and Steventon would be affected, with the company warning of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) on some homes. |
| Richard Aylard, environmental director of Thames Water, said: "I have huge sympathy for the people living there. No doubt some will not want to leave. | Richard Aylard, environmental director of Thames Water, said: "I have huge sympathy for the people living there. No doubt some will not want to leave. |
| The new reservoir will be located south of Abingdon in Oxfordshire | The new reservoir will be located south of Abingdon in Oxfordshire |
| "We have spoken to the people in the area, saying if they are interested in selling, we want to buy." | "We have spoken to the people in the area, saying if they are interested in selling, we want to buy." |
| But he said he hoped CPOs could be avoided. | But he said he hoped CPOs could be avoided. |
| A public consultation on the plans will last until November. | A public consultation on the plans will last until November. |
| It marks the first of three stages of consultation, looking at future demand for water and the best location for a reservoir. | It marks the first of three stages of consultation, looking at future demand for water and the best location for a reservoir. |
| The second stage will concentrate on the design of the site, and the third its environmental impact. | The second stage will concentrate on the design of the site, and the third its environmental impact. |
| "We want to know what local people think, we want to know what kind of a reservoir they want, and we want to explain exactly why more water is needed," Mr Aylard said. | "We want to know what local people think, we want to know what kind of a reservoir they want, and we want to explain exactly why more water is needed," Mr Aylard said. |
| "We've got to use less water, we've got to get leakage right down, but we are also going to need more water and the sensible time to store it is in the winter, when it would otherwise just run rapidly out to sea - store it in a reservoir so we can draw on it in the summer." | "We've got to use less water, we've got to get leakage right down, but we are also going to need more water and the sensible time to store it is in the winter, when it would otherwise just run rapidly out to sea - store it in a reservoir so we can draw on it in the summer." |
| Case 'not proven' | Case 'not proven' |
| Nick Scone of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: "We're not necessarily against it, but our local branch does feel that the case for this reservoir is not proven and at the national level we tend to agree with that view. | Nick Scone of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: "We're not necessarily against it, but our local branch does feel that the case for this reservoir is not proven and at the national level we tend to agree with that view. |
| "There's going to be a lot of work needed by Thames Water to show that there is a case for this reservoir." | "There's going to be a lot of work needed by Thames Water to show that there is a case for this reservoir." |
| Mr Scone said there needed to be proof of "social, economic and environmental" benefits. | Mr Scone said there needed to be proof of "social, economic and environmental" benefits. |
| If the scheme is approved at a public inquiry, construction is likely to begin in 2011 and is due to last about eight years. | If the scheme is approved at a public inquiry, construction is likely to begin in 2011 and is due to last about eight years. |
| The Consumer Council for Water said it welcomed the plan, but warned it was not the sole solution to the region's water resource problems. | The Consumer Council for Water said it welcomed the plan, but warned it was not the sole solution to the region's water resource problems. |
| "Thames Water must continue to reduce leakage faster and further than it has in the past, and consumers must continue to use water sensibly," it said. | "Thames Water must continue to reduce leakage faster and further than it has in the past, and consumers must continue to use water sensibly," it said. |