Abingdon Reservoir | |
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![]() 2023 Illustration by Thames Water of the conceptual design and location for a 150 Mm3 reservoir.[1] | |
Location | Oxfordshire |
Coordinates | 51°38′04″N 1°21′15″W / 51.63444°N 1.35417°W |
Lake type | Bunded reservoir (Proposed) |
Primary inflows | River Thames |
Primary outflows | River Thames |
Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Surface area | 6.7 km2 (670 ha; 1,700 acres) |
Average depth | 22.4 m (73 ft) |
Water volume | 150 million cubic metres (150 billion litres; 33 billion imperial gallons; 0.15 cubic kilometres; 0.036 cubic miles) |
The Abingdon Reservoir (also known as the South East Strategic Reservoir Option, or SESRO)[2] is a long-term proposal for fresh water storage for the Home Counties. Located south west of Abingdon, Oxfordshire in the mid-west of the Thames Basin, it is intended to help support water supply provision in the south-east of England.
The proposal arose in 2006 by Thames Water.[3] In 2007 the Environment Agency opined that need for this was not proven.[4] Further arguments were put but the near-term-demand case was rejected in 2011.[5] In 2023, following a period of consultation, a revised version increased the proposal to 150 billion litres (150 million cubic metres; 33 billion imperial gallons).[6]
This would make Abingdon the second-largest reservoir in England by capacity, exceeded only by Kielder Water at 200 billion litres (200 million cubic metres; 44 billion imperial gallons), pushing Rutland Water into third place at 124 billion litres (124 million cubic metres; 27 billion imperial gallons). Across the whole of the UK, only seven Scottish lochs have greater freshwater storage by volume.
Since 2018, a longer-term proposal stands, for its building, by 2043 to cater to projected population growth in the Thames Basin.[7][8]
See also: Climate of the United Kingdom and Population of the United Kingdom |
The main reason to build is that the South-East is facing significant seasonal water stress. Factors are the rain shadow behind the prevailing westerly winds and western hills. Eastern counties lack the rainfall of the west; their average annual rainfall being 500-750mm. The west receives around 1800-2800mm.
Average population density is higher in the eastern than western counties; London houses 13.5% of the UK's population. This is the greatest concentration of domestic water usage. Roughly 22% of water use is domestic; 75% is from all types of industry.[citation needed]
GARD or the 'Group Against Reservoir Development' have counter-arguments, local, national, and international comparators.[9]