Essex Water Supply Project

Essex & Suffolk Water is planning ahead to make sure there’s enough water for everyone — now and in the future. Our forecasts show that, over the next 25 years and beyond, demand for water will outstrip supply, especially as droughts become more frequent and severe.

To tackle this, we’ve developed a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP). This plan outlines a range of infrastructure projects to help us continue delivering clean, safe drinking water — even during the most extreme droughts.

We consulted widely on the draft plan in 2022 and 2023, and your feedback helped shape the final version, which was approved by Defra in 2024. You can read the full WRMP here: www.nwg.co.uk/wrmp

What’s Happening in South Essex?

As part of our long-term plan, we’re proposing to build a new water treatment works in the south Essex area. This will help boost water supply and improve the resilience of the wider network.

The project will also include:

• One or more new production boreholes
• Raw water pipelines from the existing borehole at Linford and from the new boreholes
• A pipeline connection to the existing water network

We’re currently assessing potential sites for the new treatment works and boreholes. This process will consider environmental, engineering, and planning factors.

Estimated Start Date: August 2027

Estimated End Date: July 2029

Partners: G Stow

FAQ's