About the project

Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are proposing a new reservoir in the Fens to help meet the growing demands on water supply in the East of England.

The new reservoir is at the heart of a whole new water supply project. Together with the associated water infrastructure we need to transfer water to the reservoir, treat the water, and supply it to homes and businesses it will secure a reliable water supply for generations to come.

When there is available water in rivers that would otherwise drain to the sea, we would draw that water and transfer it to the reservoir using new and existing infrastructure and waterways. The reservoir will store the water for when it’s needed.

Having this new water resource will reduce demands on sensitive sources such as chalk streams, helping us to protect and restore the environment. It will make us more resilient to a changing climate, reducing the impact of droughts while helping to manage river levels in wetter periods.

The proposed reservoir is located between Chatteris and March, near to Doddington, Wimblington and Manea. Before our phase one consultation, we completed a thorough site selection process for the reservoir and are continuing to work hard to develop our plans for the chosen site.

Why a reservoir

Reservoirs are sustainable ways of producing resilient, safe drinking water supplies because they take from river catchments which have surplus water. They mean we can make the most of wet weather for public water supply, capturing river water that would otherwise drain to the sea and storing it so it’s on tap when needed.

Our vision for the project goes beyond simply creating a new public water supply. This is a significant investment in England’s water infrastructure and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver lasting benefits for people, place and environment.