House of Commons · Westminster Hall
06 September 2023 · 4 other contributors · 4,616 words
Opened by Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Responding minister: Rebecca Pow
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Munira Wilson raised concerns about water resources management plan: teddington in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
I ask the Minister to veto the Teddington water recycling proposals now before more money is wasted on a project that does not address environmental concerns adequately or benefit customers. I also request the Minister to provide a timeline for when the Secretary of State will make her decision and respond to questions about the viability, risks, and potential impact of the scheme.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
I am concerned about Thames Water's plans for a water recycling scheme at Teddington, which involves pumping treated sewage into the river every day and disrupting local green spaces. The public consultation received over 1,700 responses, with many opposing the proposal due to environmental concerns and lack of communication from Thames Water. Residents are worried about the impact on wildlife habitats, recreational activities, and the overall health of the river ecosystem.
Supports the campaign against Thames Water's plans, highlighting concerns about ecology preservation, water quality, and construction impacts in Kingston.
Thames Water should focus on reducing leakage rather than pursuing expensive capital schemes.
Up to six construction sites planned for Ham Lands in Richmond Park, potentially destroying five acres of vital wildlife habitat. 24,000 people have signed a petition against the scheme.
I could not agree more with my hon. Friend about Thames Water's proposal. Thames Water has conducted a consultation, but it has not listened to public opinion or taken due regard of the impact on the environment.
Government Response
Rebecca PowIt is a pleasure to have Sir Christopher in the Chair and thank the hon. Member for Twickenham for securing the debate on water resources management, recognising the challenges posed by climate change and population growth. The Government's plan anticipates a need of an additional 4 billion litres of water per day by 2050, addressing this through investment in supply infrastructure and demand reduction measures such as halving leakage levels and reducing average per capita consumption to 110 litres per person per day from the current 144 litres. The Minister highlighted the importance of protecting iconic habitats like chalk streams and implementing legally binding demand management targets via the Environment Act 2021. She emphasised collaboration with regional water resource groups, noting ongoing consultations on draft plans including Thames Water's Teddington direct river abstraction project, one of over 2,400 options modelled to address climate change and population growth while protecting the environment. The Minister also mentioned various new schemes like reservoirs, recycling projects, desalination plants, and inter-regional water transfers, supported by £469 million from Ofwat for investigating strategic water resources options. She stressed the importance of environmental protection and robust regulatory processes, including those of the Environment Agency and Ofwat in shaping regional plans and finalising draft proposals.