On 23 July 2025, the Environment Agency published a drought map that revealed significant parts of England were experiencing drought conditions. At the time, many other areas were experiencing prolonged dry weather, which could potentially lead to drought. In fact, only three areas were classed as normal.
One of those areas, London and the South East, is the site of England’s only functional desalination plant (currently not in operation). Another area, the South West, is currently consulting on plans to introduce a desalination facility designed to ease pressure on the rivers and reservoirs which currently supply most of the region’s drinking water.
With water supplies facing increasing pressures, the Environment Agency has produced a position statement supporting the use of desalination as part of the country’s resilience strategy:
“Water companies may need to include desalination as an option in their water resource management plans (WRMP) to increase resilience… We believe that desalination schemes should play a larger role in our future national water supplies, provided appropriate environmental protection and mitigation measures are in place.”
One of the utilities furthest forward in exploring desalination opportunities is Anglian Water, which has awarded a €33 million technical contract to TYPSA-Stantec to develop proposed plants in two locations in the driest part of the UK.
According to the Environment Agency, droughts are becoming more frequent as a direct result of climate change, which is causing longer, hotter summers and more intense periods of rainfall in winter (causing more flooding events).
During 2025, the UK experienced its sixth-driest spring since records began, which led to significant reductions in reservoir storage levels – half of all reservoirs were classed as either notably or exceptionally low.
Talking to the Guardian newspaper, Dr Will Lang, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, the UK’s weather forecaster, explained why current predictions require utilities and the government to work together to explore resilient water management plans: “Looking ahead, there is an increased risk of dry spells through late autumn and early winter and regional differences in rainfall continue to be likely. Without sustained and widespread precipitation, a consistent recovery from drought remains uncertain.”
In its position statement, the Environment Agency agreed, explaining that it: “Supports the development of resilient water supplies, including exploring various options to meet future demands. We believe that desalination could play an effective and increasing role in securing water supplies, enabling water companies to maximise available resources. We encourage desalination to be considered as part of a diverse range of supply and demand solutions.”
Defra, the environment ministry, estimates that without additional resources, England faces a public supply shortfall of 5bn l/d by 2055, with a further deficit of 1bn l/d in the wider economy.
Desalination has been explored by many of the UK’s utilities. For example, Southern Water explored a facility at Fawley, which they concluded was not a viable option.
To date, the only facility to have operated is located at Beckton in London. Originally built in 2010, the facility has been beset by problems and is currently out of action. Over the course of its existence, it has cost a total of more than €575bn and delivered 7.2bn litres of drinking water. However, it has only operated on five occasions, and each litre has cost customers more than 28 times what they would normally pay.
Speaking to the Guardian, a Thames Water spokesperson revealed that upgrades are taking place, including to the plant’s reverse osmosis membranes, and that once complete, the plant would provide 5 per cent of London’s supply during very dry conditions.
South West Water is currently consulting on proposals to introduce a desalination plant in St Austell Bay on the west coast of England. It forms part of a £125 million investment package designed to create more resilient water supplies.
With a capacity of 20,000 m3/day, the development will provide water for 300,000 people and could eventually meet up to 40 per cent of the region's water demands. The utility has said the initial plans will include a desalination plant (made up of approximately five shipping container-sized units), a 13km transfer pipeline to an upgraded water treatment works. Engineering company Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions has been appointed to manufacture and supply the proposed desalination plant.
Against the backdrop of increasing droughts and falling groundwater levels, key rivers in Anglian Water’s region are also under stress, with monitored stretches observed as being below normal, notably low and exceptionally low during 2025.
In 2024, the utility identified the significant challenges faced in the region: its Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24) forecast that daily shortfalls would reach 593 ml/d by 2050 without intervention – approximately half of the current volume of water entering the network.
As part of the utility's plans for securing resilience in the water network, two desalination plants are planned – Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire and Bacton in Norfolk – which will be developed by a Desalination Technology Partnership (DTP) comprising TYPSA-Stantec supported by Acciona Agua, with a secondary support partnership comprising RSK-GHD JV, supported by Veolia.
According to Anglian Water, the DTPs will provide the technical expertise needed to deliver the programme. This includes design and engineering, optioneering, site selection, planning and consenting, as well as support for estimating, programming, and constructability assessments. They will also assist with land acquisition and regulatory engagement, ensuring the programme is robust and future-ready.
The initial contract will last for five years, through to 2031, with the option to extend for a further five years.
In a statement, Kate Cassalli, head of programme development for Anglian Water, said: “This is an exciting next step in our plans for desalination, and we’re really pleased to be welcoming TYPSA-Stantec and Acciona as our Primary Partner, along with RSK-GHD JV and Veolia as Secondary Partner.”
She added: “Seawater desalination is a fairly new technology for the UK water industry, so our partners’ technical expertise will be vital in progressing these plans. With Stantec’s record as the top design and engineering consultant for the UK water sector, and TYPSA’s position as Europe’s leading desalination consultant, we’re confident that we’ve got the right expertise supporting us as we take on this new challenge.”
