Strategic Resource Options

Affinity Water’s Strategic Solutions

Along with Severn Trent , the Canal & River Trust and Thames Water, we have been developing four strategic water resource options to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits for the region and communities we serve. We will update this page regularly to share our progress across these solutions and to explain what is happening and when, and how you can find out more.

Background

We provide on average 900 million litres of drinking water to approximately 3.6 million people, or 1.4 million households every day. The water we supply is currently mostly from local sources, with 65% coming from aquifers (porous rocks that store water below the ground) and 35% from rivers. We often have to move our water a considerable distance from where we take it to where we treat it and distribute it to your tap.

Every five years, Affinity Water is required to produce a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) setting out how it will manage water supplies over a minimum of the next 25 years. We published our revised draft WRMP on August 2023. This plan considers the key challenges we face, such as climate change, environmental protection, population growth and the risk of drought, in ensuring a resilient future supply of water for our customers.

Our draft WRMP prioritises a demand-management approach to ensuring a resilient supply of water. This includes measures such as installing meters, reducing leakage and promoting household water efficiency. However, we acknowledged that at some point significant new infrastructure (such as inter-regional transfers or reservoirs) will be required to ensure we continue to supply enough water to meet our customers’ needs.

The scale and complexity of potential new infrastructure means that long lead-in times are required; we have to plan for these solutions ahead of time, for them to be 'construction ready', should they be needed.

RAPID

To support the progression of strategic options, the Regulatory Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) has been established to help accelerate the development of new water infrastructure. It seeks to improve regulation and remove barriers to help the water sector respond to long-term water resources challenges. RAPID is comprised of representatives from Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Strategic solutions

As part of our planning process, our WRMP considers a number of strategic solutions that could significantly increase future supply and we have been developing these options:

  • Minworth: A source of raw water flow augmentation to support either the Severn to Thames Transfer (STT) SRO, the Grand Union Canal (GUC) SRO, or a combination of the two.
  • The Grand Union Canal Transfer (GUC): An option that utilises the existing canal infrastructure to transfer treated wastewater from Minworth (STW) in the Midlands to Affinity Water in Hertfordshire and North West London.
  • The South East Strategic Reservoir (SESRO): a proposed new reservoir located near Abingdon (Oxfordshire) that offers storage and a resilient supply of raw water to the River Thames during periods of low flow, for subsequent re-abstraction in London.
  • The Thames to Affinity Transfer: A raw water transfer that could use a variety of potential source waters (three possible source options SESRO, Severn Thames Transfer or London- recycling options). Two possible ‘corridors’ have been identified: 1) the fluvial Thames; 2) London Re-use - all would include new treatment works and conveyance routes.

Through our planning process Minworth and the Grand Union Canal Transfer have been selected as the first strategic schemes to be delivered with planned completion in the summer of 2032 .

Gate reports

In early July 2021, we submitted the first stage of the assessment of the SROs, called Gate 1 reports, to RAPID for detailed review, this was followed on the 14 November 2022 with the Gate 2 reports.

Additional information submitted to RAPID as part of the review process, and the draft decisions are found in the documents folder on this page.

We are now in the process of developing the Gate 3 documents.

Affinity Water’s Strategic Solutions

Along with Severn Trent , the Canal & River Trust and Thames Water, we have been developing four strategic water resource options to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits for the region and communities we serve. We will update this page regularly to share our progress across these solutions and to explain what is happening and when, and how you can find out more.

Background

We provide on average 900 million litres of drinking water to approximately 3.6 million people, or 1.4 million households every day. The water we supply is currently mostly from local sources, with 65% coming from aquifers (porous rocks that store water below the ground) and 35% from rivers. We often have to move our water a considerable distance from where we take it to where we treat it and distribute it to your tap.

Every five years, Affinity Water is required to produce a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) setting out how it will manage water supplies over a minimum of the next 25 years. We published our revised draft WRMP on August 2023. This plan considers the key challenges we face, such as climate change, environmental protection, population growth and the risk of drought, in ensuring a resilient future supply of water for our customers.

Our draft WRMP prioritises a demand-management approach to ensuring a resilient supply of water. This includes measures such as installing meters, reducing leakage and promoting household water efficiency. However, we acknowledged that at some point significant new infrastructure (such as inter-regional transfers or reservoirs) will be required to ensure we continue to supply enough water to meet our customers’ needs.

The scale and complexity of potential new infrastructure means that long lead-in times are required; we have to plan for these solutions ahead of time, for them to be 'construction ready', should they be needed.

RAPID

To support the progression of strategic options, the Regulatory Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) has been established to help accelerate the development of new water infrastructure. It seeks to improve regulation and remove barriers to help the water sector respond to long-term water resources challenges. RAPID is comprised of representatives from Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Strategic solutions

As part of our planning process, our WRMP considers a number of strategic solutions that could significantly increase future supply and we have been developing these options:

  • Minworth: A source of raw water flow augmentation to support either the Severn to Thames Transfer (STT) SRO, the Grand Union Canal (GUC) SRO, or a combination of the two.
  • The Grand Union Canal Transfer (GUC): An option that utilises the existing canal infrastructure to transfer treated wastewater from Minworth (STW) in the Midlands to Affinity Water in Hertfordshire and North West London.
  • The South East Strategic Reservoir (SESRO): a proposed new reservoir located near Abingdon (Oxfordshire) that offers storage and a resilient supply of raw water to the River Thames during periods of low flow, for subsequent re-abstraction in London.
  • The Thames to Affinity Transfer: A raw water transfer that could use a variety of potential source waters (three possible source options SESRO, Severn Thames Transfer or London- recycling options). Two possible ‘corridors’ have been identified: 1) the fluvial Thames; 2) London Re-use - all would include new treatment works and conveyance routes.

Through our planning process Minworth and the Grand Union Canal Transfer have been selected as the first strategic schemes to be delivered with planned completion in the summer of 2032 .

Gate reports

In early July 2021, we submitted the first stage of the assessment of the SROs, called Gate 1 reports, to RAPID for detailed review, this was followed on the 14 November 2022 with the Gate 2 reports.

Additional information submitted to RAPID as part of the review process, and the draft decisions are found in the documents folder on this page.

We are now in the process of developing the Gate 3 documents.

  • Thames to Affinity Transfer - find out more

    What’s the solution?

    A transfer of raw water from Thames Water to Affinity Water. It would rely on new sources of water from one of the other strategic resources options (Severn Thames Transfer (STT), South East Strategic Resource Options (SESRO) or London reuse) contributing to a resilient water supply for Affinity Water. The transfer route and infrastructure requirements will depend on the source water and are being developed further as part of the development work.



    Option 1 map key

    • Green - Potential pipeline corridor option 1
    • ][ - Potential crossing point
    • 1 - Connection into existing raw water tunnel
    • 2 - Proposed new water treatment works
    • 3 - Connection into existing Affinity Water network
    • 4 - Raw water pumping station
    • 5 - Queen Mother Reservoir
    • 6 - Wraysbury Reservoir

    Option 2 map key

    • Orange - Potential pipeline corridor option 2
    • ][ - Potential crossing point
    • Grey - Existing site
    • Black - Proposed site
    • 1 - River Lee intake
    • 2 - Raw water pumping station
    • 3 - Raw water transfer station
    • 4 - Water treatment works and high lift pumping station
    • 5 - Drinking water transfer main (pumped)
    • 6 - Drinking water transfer main (gravity)


    Our plans currently show the need for the Thames to Affinity Transfer in the 2040s so we will continue to develop this option.

  • The Grand Union Canal Transfer - find out more

    The Grand Union Canal (GUC) Transfer is one of our most innovative Strategic Resource Options (SROs). It utilises existing infrastructure to transfer water from the Midlands, down to our Affinity Water supply area. This transfer will take treated water from Severn Trent’s Minworth site, via a new closed pipeline transfer, to a location on the canal near Atherstone. The transfer will utilise the existing canal structure, passing through the Coventry Canal, the Oxford Canal, and the Grand Union Canal. Water will be abstracted at a location near Leighton Buzzard and stored, before being treated at a new Water Treatment Works onsite, and then transferred to our Affinity Water supply area. The scheme won't impede navigation and will improve the resilience of the canal, with the transfer offering multiple benefits for the existing canal users and owners, the local community and the local environment.

    Our plan is to deliver the transfer as soon as possible, ideally by 2032, although it could take one or two years more.

    Although there will be some minor disruption as the works take place we will work closely with the Canal & River Trust and the local community to deliver wider benefits such as:

    • Improving access and parking
    • Flood alleviation
    • Habitat creation
    • Planting reedbeds
    • Realignment of the river channels connected to the canal
    • Connecting and improving paths
Page last updated: 19 Dec 2023, 08:43 AM