PLANS are in the pipeline to sell emergency water supplies from the Midlands to drought-hit parts of the country.
Bosses at Severn Trent and Anglian Water are in talks to pipe 30 million litres of raw water a day around the country - enough to supply 100,000 homes.
They are warning that it could be a sign of things to come as water resources dry up.
It is thought to be the first time such a deal has been considered and would involve water being transferred from Birmingham to the East starting in June.
In the meantime residents are being urged to save water to conserve supplies.
David Essex, water strategy manager for Severn Trent said: “Technical discussions are under way and this could happen as early as June. We will soon be able to con- firm if we are in a position to be able to help our neighbours while having enough to keep our own customers in supply.” Simon Love, head of drought response at Anglian Water, said: “We are talking to Severn Trent about this idea, and it’s one that we are taking seriously. We are exploring a number of options to help support the drought-hit region.
“In the short term, though, it’s vital that everyone takes steps to save water in the home. Large-scale support like this scheme could help, but even if we are able to make it work, it won’t mean we can cancel this summer’s hosepipe ban.” The scheme is being explored under the auspices of the Collaborative Drought Planning Group, alongside Water UK. Any final proposal would need to be ratified HELPING HAND? . . . Severn Trent Water’s Foremark Reservoir.
by the Environment Agency before it would be put into operation.
Much of the east of England has been in drought status since summer 2011, with the area at risk of drought expanding to include most of the south and east of England and now including parts of York- shire.
Severn Trent Water has been taking steps over the past months to make sure there is enough water across the region and said it is not currently predicting any usage restrictions this year.
The company has focused on moving raw water supplies across its water grid from the wetter west to the drier east to balance out regional supplies.
Careful water resources management from river and ground water sources, including the development of a new over- land pipeline at Draycote Reservoir, Rugby has also helped to strengthen the system.
A hosepipe ban came into force in the Anglian Water region on April 5 for the first time in 20 years.
The company successfully applied for two drought permits over the winter to help maintain levels in Rutland and Pits- ford reservoirs, having also invested £120million to make better use of water across the region since April 2010.
