UK faces reservoir shortfall as first new reservoir in 35 years begins construction
After the driest summer on record, the UK is building its first new reservoir in 35 years, but experts warn it will not meet projected demand.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The UK is facing a stark shortfall in water storage capacity after the driest summer on record, with no new large reservoir built in 35 years. The first new project, Havant Thicket in Hampshire, is now under construction, but experts warn it will barely dent the projected demand.
Climate change is expected to bring wetter winters and drier summers, making reservoirs essential for storing winter rain. Population growth and new demand from data centres mean the UK will need an extra 5 billion litres of water a day by 2050, according to projections.
Historically, the UK built more than 30 large drinking water reservoirs between the 1950s and 1970s. Since privatisation, no new reservoir has been completed until now. Havant Thicket, being built by Portsmouth Water, is the first in 35 years. The site was chosen for its clay soil, which holds water well. The reservoir will hold up to 9 billion litres, but construction is complex, with daily lab analysis of the clay as embankments are layered.
Beyond technical challenges, projects face environmental concerns and local opposition. Red tape has scuppered several schemes. The government has designated some reservoirs as nationally significant infrastructure projects, which bypasses many planning hurdles, but only two of ten proposed reservoirs qualify. Thames Water's proposed White Horse reservoir in Oxfordshire, 15 times larger than Havant Thicket, is not due for completion until 2040.
Even if all ten reservoirs are built on time, they would provide only an extra 700 million litres a day, far short of the 5 billion needed. Proposals for a water grid to transfer water from the wetter north and west to the drier south are seen as increasingly necessary, though expensive and complex. The report concludes that the UK cannot wait another 35 years to sort out its water supply.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| No large drinking-water reservoir has been completed since privatisation until the Havant Thicket project. | |
| Ten planned reservoirs would provide only 700 million litres of water a day, far short of the projected need. | |
| The UK will need an extra 5 billion litres of water a day by 2050 due to population trends and data centre demand. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel aired a detailed report by science and technology editor Tom Clark, focusing on the historical gap in reservoir construction since privatisation, the technical and planning challenges of the first new project, and the projected shortfall against future demand. The tone is critical of the slow pace and insufficient pipeline, with a clear call for urgent action.
- “If one of the driest summers on record tells us anything it's that we're going to need more of these”
- “Since water companies were privatized. We've not seen a single new reservoir project until now”
- “Well short of the 5 billion we're forecast to need”
This channel presented the same report by Tom Clark, with identical focus on the reservoir shortage, the first new construction in 35 years, and the inadequacy of current plans. The framing is consistent with the morning broadcast, emphasising the need for a water grid and the risk of waiting too long.
- “If one of the driest summers on record tells us anything it's that we're going to need more of these”
- “Since water companies were privatised we've not seen a single new reservoir project until now”
- “Well short of the 5 billion we're forecast to need”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.