No plans for major upgrade of key Somerset reservoir near Exmoor National Park
The reservoir has been operational for over 60 years
Wessex Water has no immediate plans to upgrade a key Somerset reservoir on the edge of the Exmoor National Park – despite recent heatwaves and the ongoing hosepipe ban.
Clatworthy Reservoir lies a few miles north of Wiveliscombe, impounding the headwaters of the River Tone and providing drinking water for large sections of Somerset, including Taunton, Wellington and other communities downstream of the river’s source.
The reservoir, which has been operational since 1961, is a popular destination for anglers and local families, who can take advantage of the picturesque views from the numerous picnic spots or brave the five-mile walk across its perimeter.
Wessex Water has been working with Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water and South West Water to drive forward the delivery of a new Cheddar Two reservoir to meet the area’s future water demands – though this will not be operational until 2035.
The companies – which together form West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) – have now confirmed that no major improvements will be made at Clatworthy in the coming years to increase its capacity.
The reservoir has a total overall capacity of 5,364,000 cubic metres, holding enough water at its peak to supply around 200,000 homes across Somerset and the wider south west.
Like its counterparts at Cheddar and Wimbleball, the reservoir’s levels have dipped as a result of recent hot weather – with Flood Radar recording it as operating at 68 per cent capacity on June 29 (the most recent figure supplied).
WCWE said that it had no immediate plans to increase the size of the reservoir, either in light of recent weather or to account to rising housing delivery downstream.
A spokesperson said: “Clatworthy Reservoir remains an important part of Wessex Water’s supply network in Somerset and is not currently being developed to increase its capacity.
“However, as part of both regional and company-level water resources management plans (WRMPs – which are currently being developed), a wide range of future supply and demand measures continue to be assessed, including opportunities to improve the resilience and efficiency of their existing assets,
“Our draft WRMPs will be published for public consultation in the spring of 2028.
“Any proposal would need to be supported by detailed technical, environmental and economic studies and would be subject to the appropriate regulatory and planning processes.”
Wessex Water’s previous WRMP included a series of commitments designed to cut consumers’ water usage and thereby reduce pressure on the existing reservoirs until new facilities could be delivered.
These included rolling out smart meters to 95 per cent of customers by 2035, reducing leaks by 50 per cent by 2050 and “investigate new regional strategic resource options”, such as creating new storage reservoirs in former quarries in the Mendip Hills.
Wessex Water is also delivering the Poole water recycling and transfer project, which will see advanced water recycling technology implemented in Dorset which can meet the needs of growing communities along its section of the south coast.