1-20 of 2,119 results for subject:Reservoirs
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To ask His Majesty's Government how many small reservoirs have been built on farmland in the last year.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many small reservoirs have been built on farmland in the last year.
The number of small reservoirs built on farmland in the last year is not collected centrally. Many small reservoirs are not subject to regulation and there is no requirement for farmers to report on these.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026 to question 23389 on Agriculture: Reservoirs, by when she plans to open a further round of the Water Management Grant.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026 to question 23389 on Agriculture: Reservoirs, by when she plans to open a further round of the Water Management Grant.
Defra has recently announced that we are reopening the Water Management Grant, with up to £15m available to help farmers build on-farm reservoirs so they can store more water to irrigate crops and be better protected against dry conditions in future. Defra plans to open the grant later this autumn and will provide more details on the application process closer to the launch.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the farming community on the prospect of higher inheritance tax bills if a farm invests in a new farm reservoir or an irrigation system.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the farming community on the prospect of higher inheritance tax bills if a farm invests in a new farm reservoir or an irrigation system.
Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of the farming sector, to discuss a range of issues.
The Government is taking action to make it easier to build reservoirs. This includes reducing unnecessary barriers, updating planning guidance, and funding up to £15 million to build on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers store water and become more resilient to future droughts.
The Government continues to provide very significant relief from inheritance tax for agricultural and business assets. A couple are able to pass on up to £5 million of such assets tax-free between them, on top of the existing allowances such as the nil-rate band.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to revise the minimum capacity of large raised reservoirs as set out in the Reservoir Act 1975.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to revise the minimum capacity of large raised reservoirs as set out in the Reservoir Act 1975.
Safety regulation applies to raised reservoirs holding 25,000m3 or more of water. Research over the next two years gathering evidence about reservoirs storing between 10,000m3 and 25,000m3 of water - their number, condition and hazard posed for communities downstream - will inform a decision whether to reduce the threshold to 10,000m3. Regulation, if taken forward, would also be dependent on a new reservoir safety regime being established.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, what assessment has she made of the source of the high nitrate levels found in water sources used to fill Grafham Water.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, what assessment has she made of the source of the high nitrate levels found in water sources used to fill Grafham Water.
A drought permit application is expected from Anglian Water in early October to support refilling Grafham Water if sustained rainfall is received. The Great Ouse Catchment System Plan partnership project has been formed to identify and track sources of nitrate and develop strategies to reduce it.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, what steps she has taken to ensure Grafham Water can be refilled to 100% this winter following the exceptionally dry weather this summer.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, what steps she has taken to ensure Grafham Water can be refilled to 100% this winter following the exceptionally dry weather this summer.
A drought permit application is expected from Anglian Water in early October to support refilling Grafham Water if sustained rainfall is received. The Great Ouse Catchment System Plan partnership project has been formed to identify and track sources of nitrate and develop strategies to reduce it.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to launch the consultation on reservoir safety reform.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to launch the consultation on reservoir safety reform.
The Government is reviewing the public consultation on reservoir safety reform. Many of the recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Report have already been implemented – detail can be found at Reservoir Safety Reforms | Reservoir Safety Reform Programme | Engage Environment Agency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase reservoir infrastructure to mitigate potential extreme summer weather.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase reservoir infrastructure to mitigate potential extreme summer weather.
The Government is pushing ahead with reforms to the water sector under our Plan for Change, which includes £104 billion of private investment, including £8 billion dedicated to improved drought planning, long-term water resource management and the delivery of 9 new reservoirs alongside major infrastructure upgrades to reduce leakage and improve water security.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2022 drought on the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2022 drought on the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
Thames Water has said London’s total reservoir storage fell to around 58%, compared to a normal seasonal average of 75%, as a result of this reduced abstraction and higher than normal demand associated with the prolonged dry weather. The reservoirs were subsequently filled when the drought ended, recovering to normal levels over the autumn and winter period.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department uses when selecting sites for potential new reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department uses when selecting sites for potential new reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8th September 2026, to Question UIN 26078, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, how many additional days would the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction add to London’s potable water supply in a very severe drought...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8th September 2026, to Question UIN 26078, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, how many additional days would the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction add to London’s potable water supply in a very severe drought...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, if she will publish a breakdown of the (a) nitrates and (b) phosphates found in water sources used to fill Grafham Water.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, if she will publish a breakdown of the (a) nitrates and (b) phosphates found in water sources used to fill Grafham Water.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) water recycling, (b) new reservoirs, (c) leakage reduction and (d) desalination as measures to increase water supply resilience.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) water recycling, (b) new reservoirs, (c) leakage reduction and (d) desalination as measures to increase water supply resilience.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of progress against the Environment Agency's leakage reduction targets of 17 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050; and whether the planned reservoir, desalination and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of progress against the Environment Agency's leakage reduction targets of 17 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050; and whether the planned reservoir, desalination and...
Water regulators monitor leakage against company commitments in Water Resources Management Plans. Latest data shows a 12% reduction from 2017/18 by June 2025. The Government is working to ensure that planned reservoir, desalination, and water efficiency deliver their expected contributions to the water supply shortfall by 2055.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of reservoirs during recent heatwaves.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of reservoirs during recent heatwaves.
The Government is committed improving water resilience. With increasing demand and the climate changing, the need for investment in resilient water supply infrastructure is necessary to meet our future needs.
Water companies have the statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water and set out how they plan to continue to do this through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs set out how each company will maintain resilient water supplies for at least the next 25 years. Within their WRMPs, companies consider all options, including improved demand management and a mix of new water resources infrastructure, such as reservoirs, large scale water transfers, desalination and water recycling. The EA has published a summary of new water infrastructure planned by the water companies: Appendix C: Revised draft water resources management plans supply options - GOV.UK (see attached).
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the relative requirements of the Lee Valley reservoirs compared with the Northern Lower Thames reservoirs in times of drought.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the relative requirements of the Lee Valley reservoirs compared with the Northern Lower Thames reservoirs in times of drought.
In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment was made of the relative requirements of the Lee Valley reservoirs compared with the Northern Lower Thames reservoirs in times of drought in 2022.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment was made of the relative requirements of the Lee Valley reservoirs compared with the Northern Lower Thames reservoirs in times of drought in 2022.
In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on delivering the Fens Reservoir.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on delivering the Fens Reservoir.
The Government is driving delivery programme coordination, through the Water Delivery Taskforce, which was established to ensure water companies follow through on their planned investments and provide the water and wastewater capacity communities need. The Taskforce brings together the Environment Agency, Natural England, and other government departments to co-ordinate the programme delivery of the new reservoirs and ensure increased water supply is available to avoid shortfalls. Anglian Water have attended the Taskforce to update on the progress of the Fens Reservoir.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act, passed in 2025, contains measures to streamline the DCO process and reform compulsory purchase to make delivery faster and cheaper; subject to examination and full planning considerations. Once Anglian Water submit a DCO application, these changes will enable a decision to be made more quickly, reducing delays in the planning process.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Press release “PM: Farmers should not carry the risk of a changing climate alone” published on 14 August 2026, how will up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs be made available to eligible farmers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Press release “PM: Farmers should not carry the risk of a changing climate alone” published on 14 August 2026, how will up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs be made available to eligible farmers.
As part of the drought support package announced on 14 August 2026, the Government committed £15 million to support investment in on-farm reservoirs. We are currently developing the detailed delivery arrangements for a further round of the Water Management Grant. Further information on eligibility criteria, application processes and timing will be published in due course. The aim of this funding is to help farmers improve water storage capacity and strengthen resilience to drought and future climate pressures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what interim measures and emergency drought management capabilities her Department is putting in place to secure national drinking water supplies during periods of extreme heat prior to the operational completion of the new reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what interim measures and emergency drought management capabilities her Department is putting in place to secure national drinking water supplies during periods of extreme heat prior to the operational completion of the new reservoirs.
The Government is committed to urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.
Water company Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) show how water companies can close the predicted water supply demand gap by:
- Managing demand (including leakage reduction and meeting the statutory demand target) – about two thirds of the gap
- Increased water resources infrastructure - about a third of the gap.
In the Water White Paper, we set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, ensuring all companies make forward-looking long-term assessments of their systems.