Southern Water is to hold a public consultation on its draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), which aims to to secure the region's future water supply while also protecting the environment.

The new draft plan will be accessible online from Wednesday, September 11, ahead of a series of public meetings in autumn.

Feedback is invited until the consultation window closes on December 4.

The draft plan, which considers water needs from 2025 all the way through to 2075, includes a 'core pathway' for the first decade.

The actions in the core pathway are considered necessary regardless of how the demand for water may change in the years ahead.

Beyond this period, different options are included in the plan depending on how much water is needed to maintain supplies.

A mix of demand reduction and supply boosting strategies are embraced in the plan, along with ways to reduce the need to enforce restrictions such as hosepipe bans.

Highlights of the report include new technology such as sensors, AI, and new water mains to reduce leakage; a targeted 9% reduction in business water use by 2038; the introduction of four water recycling schemes by 2035, which would turn treated wastewater into purified recycled water that is drinkable; and extended pipelines to move water from new sources around the network.

A number of drop-in roadshow events and webinars will take place in October and November at which Southern Water team members will demonstrate aspects of the proposals to the public and to stakeholders.

Lawrence Gosden, chief executive officer of Southern Water, said: "The South East has one of the fastest growing populations in the UK and we’re already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with extreme weather and increased risk of droughts.

"If we are to overcome these challenges, we need to take significant action and make required investment now, in order to create new robust and resilient water supplies for us and future generations.

"We currently predict that we will run out of water within the next ten years without the interventions we’ve included in our plan – impacting our everyday lives, the ability of businesses that provide our vital services and our environment."

Full details of the events, and details of how to take part in the consultation, are available at https://www.southernwater.co.uk/about-us/our-plans/water-resources-management-plan/