A GLINT OF LIGHT INDEED as there is a plan to develop early-stage designs for an ambitious Severn to Thames water transfer project.
The ambitious plan is to restore the Cotswold canals to transfer water from the Severn to the Thames, Roger Fox reports.
Joint venture
Thames Water has appointed a joint venture of AtkinsRéalis and Stantec to develop early-stage designs for the water transfer project.
There are two options—either laying a new pipeline or restoring sections of the historic Cotswold canals.
The scheme is to transfer water to safeguard long-term supplies to the South East, with it predicting a shortfall of up to 1bn litres of water a day for its 10m customers across London and the Thames Valley.
The project forms a key part of Thames Water’s approved Water Resources Management Plan 2024. Alongside the transfer link, the plan also backs a new reservoir in Oxfordshire and a water recycling plant in West London.
Design and engineering options
Thames Water tells the team will develop design and engineering options to ensure the project is 'ready to go' if and when construction gets the green light.
No final cost has been confirmed, but industry benchmarks suggest a price tag in the £1bn–£2bn range depending on route and capacity.
The Cotswold canals option could bring added heritage and engineering challenges, but potentially greater environmental and amenity benefits if it gets the go-ahead.
British Waterways had begun the restoration of the link between the two rivers, but alas, Canal & River Trust quickly cancelled it.