Protecting our rivers, taking care of the flow

We rely on local rivers and chalk aquifers to produce more than 544 million litres of drinking water daily, for our 2.3 million customers across the South East.

To secure the future of our water supply, we need to be sure that we’re not causing damage to the rivers and streams that we rely on. That’s why, through our Sustainable Abstraction scheme, we are making sure we strike a healthy balance between taking the water needed for customers’ water supplies, which leaving enough for the environment to thrive. Where there are issues such as pollution, too much or little vegetation growth or the river channel has been artificially modified, we also work with farmers and landowners all year round to protect water quality in rivers, reservoirs and groundwater (aquifers) through our award-winning Catchment Management programme.(opens in a new tab)

It’s devastating to say that 2.2 billion people worldwide currently live without safely managed drinking water services. It’s easy to take for granted having fresh, clean water to drink straight out of our tap, and we need to work together to protect our water sources for future generations.

We are very proud to be the first UK water company to implement a 25-year environment plan; putting people and the planet first. South East Water’s industry first H25 focuses on four key areas:

💧Safe water - futureproofing water for the environment and next-generation.

🌱 Climate change - building an environment that adapts to a changing climate.

💙 Sustainability - protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

🤝 Partnerships - working collaboratively to keep rivers and underground water sources healthy.

Where does rainwater go and how do we use it?

The majority of the water on Earth is groundwater, making it crucial for all life. Groundwater is found under the surface of the earth, it is produced when rain seeps through the soil level and descends right down to a zone called dense rock allowing the water to be contained in the pores of these rocks, these storage systems are called aquifers. The water can then be abstracted through boreholes by pumps to be treated and used. It otherwise feeds lakes, rivers, springs and can seep into oceans.

Keeping our rivers healthy

To keep our rivers and groundwater sources healthy, we manage distinct areas around our water sources, known as catchments. We work with farmers and landowners to stop soil, fertiliser and pesticides washing from fields into rivers and groundwater; improving the quality of our water at the source.

Never standing still, we will review and update H25 regularly, at least every 5 years, and we will continue to put our environment and protect our precious water sources at the forefront of everything we do.