THAMES WATER:
UPPER THAMES (ABINGDON) RESERVOIR PLAN

Latest Reservoir Plan (2009):-

• To contain 100 million tonnes of water (previously 150MT).
• Eliminating about 5,000 acres of productive farmland.
• Situated between Steventon, Drayton, Marcham and the Hanneys.
• Relying solely on the already heavily abstracted Thames flow to top up  the reservoir during months of higher rainfall.
• Construction starting from 2016 (or sooner), completion 2026.
• With excessively high built-in headroom capable of supplying up to 200 million litres/day.
• Projected to meet just 60 million litres/day forecast shortfall in occasional  drought periods from 2035.
• Estimated cost about £1 billion – but likely to turn out higher.

Thames Water’s long term forecast reduced three times over past five years, demonstrating their unreliability and overstatement.

Thames Water’s programmed leakage reductions crucially dependent on repairing London’s ageing and neglected water mains. Leakages remain at wholly unacceptable levels.

Thames Water’s latest 2009 Plan disregards or distorts much less costly, more secure and environmentally sustainable alternatives proposed by GARD.

If Thames Water succeeds in persuading the Government to support their massive, unnecessary Abingdon reservoir, its enormous cost will be unfairly borne by their customers.  On the other hand, GARD’s better, cheaper proposals are fully capable of meeting water demand growth from the South East and London without TWs proposed reservoir.

AN ABINGDON RESERVOIR IS NEITHER NEEDED NOR JUSTIFIABLE