We have identified a need to build new infrastructure to store more water. The reasons we need to do this are:

We are in the driest region in the UK making us particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. These reservoirs will help protect you from future climate events, including hotter summers and potential future droughts. This will give you confidence that water will be on tap for you whatever the weather.

Having the capacity to store more water will help us reduce the amount of water we need to abstract from rivers and groundwater. This will help protect and restore the natural environment which also relies on these existing water sources.

Our region is one of the fastest growing in the country. It is estimated there could be more than 175,000 new homes built over the next five years. By 2050, the region’s population may grow by a further million people. These reservoirs will provide the capacity the region needs to grow sustainably.

Half our water already comes from our reservoirs like Rutland Water, Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Alton Water in Suffolk and Pitsford Water near Northampton. The other half comes from the aquifers and other groundwater sources.

 

We have already built new underground storage reservoirs and invested in new pipelines to connect different parts of the network. The huge Grafham Resilience Project, for example, saw us building the largest precast concrete reservoir in Europe next to Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire to store 44 million litres of treated water.

 

Looking ahead, we need to build more water storage to make sure we have enough water on tap in the future to meet demands, and to protect and restore the environment.

 

To deliver this extra capacity, we are investing in two new reservoirs – one in Lincolnshire, and another in the Fens in partnership with Cambridge Water. 

 

  • Find out more about the proposals we’re progressing for a new reservoir in Lincolnshire here.
  • Find out more about the proposals we’re progressing in partnership with Cambridge Water for a new reservoir in the Fens here.

 

These two major projects will secure a reliable supply of water and unlock new opportunities for the region to thrive.

 

People will have plenty of chance to have their say, to make sure they offer the best long-term solution and value for the region.

 

Alongside meeting these challenges, the project presents significant social, economic and environmental opportunities. Our vision for the project goes beyond just building a reservoir. We want to create a place where water, people and nature come together.

 

That means:

 

  • creating space for wildlife, such as wetlands
  • enabling new recreational and educational activities and natural places for people to explore.
  • creating new jobs and providing opportunities for local businesses and tourism.

 

And we will do all of this with care and attention to protect the environment. You can learn more about our need for new strategic infrastructure projects here. 

We know that regulators, and our local and regional partners, also want to make sure the reservoir delivers across a whole range of areas. And our customers and communities have been clear in their feedback so far that the reservoir should deliver local benefits, while being developed in a way that is sensitive to people and place. 

 

Turning ambition into reality is an important responsibility, and we understand the impact and uncertainty that this long-term project creates for local landowners and communities.

 

That’s why we have set out how we’re going to deliver our shared ambition - the shared ambition of Anglian Water and Cambridge Water, local and central government, stakeholders and customers, to create a lasting, positive legacy for our region.  

 

You can read more about how we plan to achieve this shared ambition below: