East Cambridgeshire District Council is spearheading a new campaign to take decisive action to address the region’s urgent water supply challenges.

Working with local farmers, it wants to see a network of new and existing agricultural reservoirs set up to capture excess winter water, currently pumped out to sea.

Linked by existing drainage systems, the reservoirs would have the potential to provide millions of litres of much needed water during the dry summer months. 

This practical, nature-based approach also aims to reduce flood risk and support agriculture during times of drought, all while enhancing biodiversity and helping to restore the unique landscape of the Fens.

The council estimates new reservoirs could be delivered in under three years for a cost of between £2 and £3 million each. 

At a time when large-scale infrastructure, such as the proposed £2.2 billion reservoir at Chatteris, remains years away, the council believes this local approach offers a scalable, cost-effective solution that could meet growing demand for water across the region.

The council has commissioned a report into the feasibility of the initiative, which has been undertaken by the Eastern Powerhouse supported by evidence from a team at the University of Cambridge as well as feedback from parish councils and local farmers.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Rather than wait for major national infrastructure projects that may take decades, our proposal focuses on capturing excess winter water - currently pumped out to sea - and storing it in mid-sized reservoirs.

“We already have more than 80 reservoirs operating across the district. Many are fully licenced and integrated into the Internal Drainage Board network. With modest investment, several could be upgraded and others newly built to provide vital water supplies. These would be faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the large-scale alternatives.”

Under the scheme farmers and landowners would be expected to bear the costs of building new reservoirs on their land on the understanding that these assets would generate revenues to cover costs and make the enterprise commercially viable.

Anna added: “We are working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and others to develop a full feasibility study and business case, as well as lobbying government and industry regulators to back this local initiative.”