- 3 August 2007 -

First desal plant for UK

The UK government has granted planning permission for a desalination plant at the Thames Gateway, in Beckton, London - the first modern plant of its type to be built in the country.

Because of the high energy consumption involved, the plant will only be used during times of drought or extended periods of low rainfall, or to maintain supplies in the event of an incident at any of the water treatment facilities of Thames Water, who would be managing the plant. The plant would provide up to 140 million litres of drinking water a day, enough for nearly one million people.

"This is good news for our customers. The desalination plant is a vital part of our plans to secure future water supplies to the capital, "said Richard Aylard, director of external affairs and sustainability at Thames Water, who will be building the plant.

"The desalination plant is still essential if London 's future water supplies are to be safeguarded. [.] without this plant there would have been a real risk that Londoners would be facing water shortages in future years. Although the technology is widely used throughout the world, it will be the first time that any UK water company has attempted it."

The company has made plans to run the plant entirely on renewable energy and will looking at potential bio-fuels sources such as bio-diesel.

www.thames-water.com

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