Thames Water has launched a 10- week statutory public consultation on its proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) project.
The vital project is designed to safeguard the drinking water supply for London’s residents, businesses, schools, hospitals and other essential services during periods of drought. Water resources across the region are already under increasing pressure, with the Environment Agency designating the South East as seriously water-stressed.
The number of people living and working in the capital is also projected to grow significantly. The company forecasts it will need an additional billion litres of water daily by 2050 to serve two million more Londoners. Population growth isn’t the only factor adding pressure to water resources.
Extreme weather, including hotter, drier summers and more frequent droughts, presents its own set of challenges. The Met Office has declared spring 2025 the warmest and sunniest on record in the UK, while the Environment Agency confirmed it was the driest spring in England for over 100 years.
These factors, including an increasing demand for water all place additional strain on precious water resources. New infrastructure will therefore be vital to keep the taps running and to protect the local environment, reducing the amount of water taken from rivers, chalk streams and groundwater sources.
How the project works
The project, which will only operate during drought, works in two parts. The first phase involves taking water from the River Thames, upstream of Teddington Weir and transferring it through a new purpose-built pipeline, to an existing underground tunnel. Here water would flow up to Thames Water’s Lee Valley Reservoirs, ready to bolster London’s essential drinking water supply.
At the heart of this project is the use of water recycling, a tried-and-tested method used around the world. To maintain river flow and protect the local environment, the company would top up the Thames, with highly treated, recycled water. Wastewater is already treated until it is clean enough to go back into environment, this project involves an additional layer of cleaning, known as Tertiary Treatment. The treated water would travel to the River Thames through a new recycled water tunnel and be released upstream of Teddington Weir, protecting river levels and wildlife.
At the heart of this project is the use of water recycling, a tried-and-tested method used around the world
Leonie Dubois, Head of Engagement, Land and Consents at Thames Water, said: “London faces a critical water security challenge that demands immediate action. This spring has already broken records, as the warmest and sunniest in over a century and has also been extremely dry, increasing the risk of drought. Our London drought resilience project is therefore essential to prevent the taps from running dry during increasingly frequent droughts.
"This consultation gives people the opportunity to help shape a project that will protect London's water resilience for generations to come. We’re hosting in person and virtual events across the summer where customers and communities are invited to find out more about the proposals, meet the project team and have their say, along with the opportunity to give their feedback.”
Have your say
The company has already made several changes to the project following feedback gathered during a previous public consultation, including reducing the number of shafts needed to construct the tunnels required. The current consultation asks for feedback on the proposals for the project, including proposed routes of the two new tunnels.
The consultation materials also contain information on the proposed construction methods for the project. People can share their comments on the construction approach and infrastructure required through the feedback form.
