Public asked for views on major new reservoir plans

South East Water has published early-stage plans for a major new reservoir in Kent.

The water company is consulting on its proposal to create Broad Oak Water on a site near Canterbury, which it says would hold about five million litres, just weeks after thousands of people in the county lost their water supply - some for the second time in six weeks.

Documents show proposed locations for pumping stations and a treatment works, and outline possibilities for public access to the site and habitat creation.

Head of water resources Nick Price said the Broad Oak site was "one of very few locations in the region where a reservoir could be built".

Three locations near West Stourmouth were suggested for where water could be taken from rivers to supply the reservoir.

Two routes are being considered for transporting this water to Broad Oak and a further pipeline is proposed to move treated water to the existing Blean Service Reservoir.

"It will help us protect the chalk streams in Kent and adapt to climate change as we can capture and store water following rainfall events," Price said.

South East Water expects an outline planning application for Broad Oak Water to be ready in 2028, according to the documents.

The company said it expected construction to begin in 2031 and water supply to start in 2035, but that it was "normal for these timescales to evolve as the project is delivered".

The scheme's ground investigation works were completed in 2025.

"Our public engagement is the next major step," Price said.

Members of the public have until 18 March to respond to South East Water's consultation.

The company purchased land for the reservoir in the 1970s.

South East Water has faced pressure from Parliament, regulators and customers after multiple supply failures left thousands of Kent and Sussex customers without water for multiple days in November, December and January.

The firm's customers learned their bills would rise by an average of 7% from April under industry-wide price increases, which industry body Water UK said were needed to fund infrastructure upgrades.

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