Southern Water, a major water company in the UK, is considering tanker water from Norway as a contingency plan for future supply shortages and droughts. The company is in talks with Extreme Drought Resilience Service (ESRD) to import water from Norwegian fjords when necessary. ESRD supplies water in various forms such as tetrapak cartons, shipping containers, or megalitres delivered by sea tanker.
The Environment Agency is reviewing Southern Water’s proposed options, including sea tankering from Norway, to ensure it is environmentally acceptable. The company is also urged to reduce reliance on taking water from important water sources like the River Test and River Itchen.
Water companies across the UK are seeking to raise bills to improve infrastructure, with Southern Water recently receiving criticism for its business plan by industry regulator Ofwat. Despite this, Ofwat still allowed Southern Water to increase bills to fund necessary improvements.
Southern Water, majority owned by Australian investor Macquarie, has faced scrutiny for its management of water resources. The company received a cash injection to prevent renationalization in 2021 and further investments in the following year.
Critics, including Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, argue that Southern Water’s reliance on importing water from Norway is a costly and carbon-intensive solution, highlighting the importance of prioritizing local water resources. The company is encouraged to view potable fresh water as a precious and finite resource and to plan accordingly.
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