The development of water resources in the South East of England started with the earliest settlers and over the years has grown and supported the development of the region. In the late 1890s, a number of significant groundwater sources were developed and used to supply water. These were followed by further resource developments after key droughts in the region.

The last significant development of new resources was the construction of Bewl Water Reservoir in the 1970s. Since then, there have been additional small-scale developments. Following the privatisation of the water industry in 1989, the majority of investment has focused on reducing the amount of water we take from the environment through our water efficiency campaigns, leakage reduction and metering programmes.

Southern Water is now planning ahead for the next 25 years to ensure we continue to supply clean, fresh drinking water on demand in an ever-changing climate and environment. The Draft Water Resources Management Plan is now available for public consultation.