The two biggest strategic reservoirs for the South West have successfully refilled to over 90% storage capacity as South West Water continues to deliver its promises for a long-term resilience plan for water.
Roadford Reservoir and Colliford Reservoir have both benefitted from record-level investment, with over £125 million targeted to increase resources in Devon and Cornwall by 30% and 45% respectively, as well as heavy rainfall and customers doing more to save water.
All the plans put in place by South West Water are now in use in Devon, and 70% are completed in Cornwall as the business works towards delivering desalination in Par and a new water treatment works in Porth. This progress has helped boost Roadford and Colliford to 100% and 96% storages respectively, compared to 63% and 55% this time last year.
Last year South West Water announced its aim to ensure that by 1 April 2024 both reservoirs reached 90% storage to ensure the region can break the drought cycle and continue to provide its 1.8 million customers and 10 million visitors with a reliable supply of water.
David Harris, South West Water’s Drought and Resilience Director, said: “In 2022 we saw climate change unfold before our eyes as Devon and Cornwall experienced one of the hottest and driest years on record. As visitors arrived to the area in their millions, our reservoirs hit their lowest ever levels and we fought hard to protect river health.
“Since then we’ve invested record amounts to deliver our drought plan, and that plan is working. While there’s no doubt that the wettest February on record has helped reservoir levels, our interventions and the hard work of our customers to reduce their water usage has combined to recharge our biggest reservoirs ahead of the spring and summer months.”
As part of South West Water’s investment it has also completed construction work at Blackpool Pit, bringing its total of repurposed quarries to four. Blackpool Pit, along with Stannon, Park and Hawks Tor, will have all been used this year to support an improvement in water resources in Cornwall.
In Devon, the business’ winter pump storage work at Gatherley is also now operational, and along with the Lyd pumping scheme delivered last year, both new schemes have been used this year to support improvement in water resources.
South West Water’s Water Resources Management Plan is looking 25 years ahead to make sure there is secure, sufficient and safe supply of water for everyone, while guaranteeing the environment and the wildlife that live here are not just protected but can thrive.
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