We need new reservoirs – and it’s a job for the state, not private companies | Letters

Local governance, not private enterprise, may hold the key to addressing the UK’s urgent need for new reservoirs, as historical precedents suggest. The Victorian era, often celebrated for its engineering feats, was in fact driven by local councillors and professional engineers who spearheaded the construction of reservoirs, aqueducts, and water-storage systems. One town’s transformation in the late 19th century illustrates this well: within four decades of gaining borough status in 1868, it expanded its water infrastructure by building five new reservoirs and integrating existing ones managed by ad hoc commissioner groups. By 1897, it was among 610 urban councils operating their own water systems, demonstrating how public bodies, not private firms, led such critical projects.

Even in more recent history, public collaboration has remained vital. In 1971, Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated Scammonden Dam, a joint venture between Huddersfield Corporation Waterworks and the Ministry of Transport. The dam not only supplied water but also served as a foundation for the trans-Pennine M62 motorway. As water shortages loom, the current government may need to revisit this model, entrusting mayors and combined authorities with the task rather than relying on private companies that have struggled to deliver.

Beyond large-scale reservoirs, innovative solutions could be integrated into new housing developments to enhance sustainability. Underground water storage systems, for example, could be incorporated into residential estates to capture excess rainfall during wet springs. Similarly, heat-exchange shafts could be installed to harness geothermal energy, providing heating for homes. Another proposal suggests co-locating data centres near new housing estates, allowing cooling water to be repurposed for central heating rather than wasted. These measures could be implemented during construction without significantly increasing costs per household.