Craig Goch reservoir dam overflowing water, Elan Vally Wales UK.

PLANS to protect water supplies in South East England from drought and the effects of climate change will come under the spotlight when the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) meets in London on Tuesday (October 4).

The water watchdog’s meeting in public at Goodenough College, Bloomsbury, will give consumers the opportunity to discover how water companies plan to keep taps running in homes and businesses across the region, despite growing pressure on water resources.

Senior representatives from Thames Water, Southern Water, Affinity Water, South East Water, Portsmouth Water and Sutton & East Surrey Water will attend the meeting.

Consumers will also have the opportunity to put any issues or concerns about their water or sewerage services and bills to the independent watchdog’s board.

Alan Lovell, CCWater’s Chair, said:

Consumers tell us that one of their top priorities is for the water industry to provide a safe, reliable and resilient supply of good quality water at a price they can afford. We’re looking forward to hearing more about long-term plans by water companies to safeguard this precious resource in the face of the growing challenge from climate change and population growth. This is a crucially important issue for London and the South East where water resources will be under stress in future.

At the meeting Water UK, which represents water companies across the country, will share the results of research on long-term water resources planning. Its report says the significant and growing risk of drought can be tackled if concerted action is taken now to protect water supplies for future generations. The researchers used new techniques to model the possible effects of climate change, growing population and environmental protection measures 50 years into the future.

Southern Water will report on the progress of its universal metering programme which is also playing its part in making water resources more resilient to change.

The meeting starts at 10am and anyone who wishes to attend is asked to email [email protected] in advance.