New London mayor greenlights Thames project

Work has begun on constructing the plant at Beckton in East London, with completion expected by late next year. Being built on the north bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Newham, it will be the first plant in London to take water from the tidal Thames, remove the salt and then pump the treated water through a new pipeline to a reservoir in Essex, ready for distribution to customers across northeast London.

The plant will be used only during times of drought, at times of peak demand and only when circumstances beyond the water company’s control limit other water supply options. Desalinisation is a more energy intensive process than conventional water treatment processes but 100% of the power needed to run the plant will come from renewable energy sources. When operational, it will be able to provide 140,000,000 litres of water per day, enough for 400,000 people.

Thames Water submitted a planning application for the plant in 2004 to Newham, which approved it. Mayor Livingstone then directed Newham to refuse it. Thames Water appealed against the decision and a Public Inquiry was held in 2006. The planning inspector dismissed Livingstone’s arguments and recommended the project should go ahead. The Government agreed and granted planning permission last year. Mayor Livingstone then launched the legal challenge to that decision which has now been dropped by his successor.

Welcoming Mayor Johnson’s decision, Thames Water CEO David Owens said, ‘Today’s news is a victory for common sense. Our draft Water Resources Management Plan published only last week highlights how London’s rapidly growing population will be at increased risk of water restrictions in future droughts if we don’t have additional sources of water.

‘The desalinisation plant is a vital part of our response to this situation and we are committed to getting it built as quickly as possible so it is available to provide safe, clean drinking water to Londoners by 2010.’