Why is it so difficult to build new reservoirs?

Wolfson RF, Dr Kevin Grecksch was recently interviewed by BBC News and Le Monde about the increasing pressure on public water supplies in England, a topic of particular relevance as we face hosepipe bans and unprecedented low rainfall.

Last year the UK government announced proposals to build nine new reservoirs by 2050, but none are likely to be operational for at least 10 years. No major reservoirs have been completed in England since 1992, shortly after the water sector was privatised.

“It is more complicated to build reservoirs now because they will inevitably face a lot of opposition”, said Dr Grecksch. “They are all controversial, because they’re massive, imposing pieces of infrastructure.”

But Dr Grecksch also believes that reservoirs are only part of the solution and advocates for water reuse schemes, where wastewater can be redeployed for agriculture. “We all need water – it’s not about restricting it. We need measures to simply save more,” he said. You can read from Dr Grecksch on this topic here.