Update – 18 June 2026

We’ve been working to shape our proposals for a new reservoir in Lincolnshire and now have more information about the sources we plan to use to fill it.

At our phase two consultation in August 2024, we outlined our plans to build a resilient supply by using water from three possible sources – the South Forty Foot Drain, the River Witham and the River Trent.

Since then, we’ve been conducting a range of technical studies to further explore our water source options, while also considering feedback received from the local community and other stakeholders.

We are now confident that we can secure all the water needed to fill the reservoir from excess water in the River Trent and River Witham during periods of high flows.

This means we are no longer planning to use the South Forty Foot Drain as a water source, or as a way of moving water into the reservoir from the other water sources.

Our latest thinking

We now feel a direct pipeline from the River Witham to the reservoir would be our best option to help maintain a secure supply of water year-round, and manage any potential impacts on the environment.

We appreciate this is new information, and that’s why we’ll providing more detail during our third phase of consultation later this year. This will give people an opportunity to provide feedback on the new transfer option and its proposed location – alongside other project updates.

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