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You are here : Keep life flowing > Doing Our Bit

What we’re doing?

We supply water to 3.9 million people across the South East, which is a big responsibility that we take very seriously.

We're working hard to protect the environment, support local wildlife, and make sure there’s enough water for everyone, now and in the future.

Where our water
comes from

The water that comes out of your tap at home is the same water you see in your local environment. We take the majority of our water from groundwater sources and the remainder from surface water sources.

We're committed to taking only what’s needed - but long-term change means working together. Every drop saved helps care for our rivers, support local wildlife, and keep life flowing for everyone.

Our successes and plans

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Fixing leaks

Fixing leaks

Tackling leaks across our network is a huge priority for us. It plays a key part in helping us to leave more water in the environment.

That’s why we’re rolling out an ambitious plan to reduce leakage, aiming for a 31% reduction by 2030.

Last year, we fixed 16,000 network leaks, and have now reduced leakage by 19.4% over the last five years. This means we're saving 39 million litres of water each day being lost through leaks.

Our dedicated teams work 24/7 using the latest technology - from underground sensors to satellite surveys - to detect and fix leaks quickly and efficiently.

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Improving
the
environment

Environmental
improvement plans

As part of our commitments to our rare chalk streams, we are working to create more resilient river systems by restoring chalk stream processes and enhancing habitats. We have been working with the Environment Agency, landowners and other partners to support Water Framework Directive objectives.

Over time, rivers have been modified to meet different community needs. From redirecting rivers to turn mill wheels producing flour to changing water levels for fisheries, watercress production and landscaping, these historic changes mean that rivers are less able to cope with variations in flow, such as drought and floods.

To help restore our rivers, we’ve removed obstacles like weirs, narrowed channels to improve flow velocity, created meanders and much more. Since 2020 we have delivered 34 chalk stream restoration projects, and plan to deliver 33 more by 2030.

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Less
abstraction

Less abstraction

Abstraction is the process of taking water from the environment.

We abstract water from deep underground in the chalk aquifer, also known as groundwater. However, this groundwater can naturally decline when there is lower than average rainfall.

Affinity Water is using 100 million litres less water per day from chalk aquifers than we did in the 1990s - a major step toward sustainability. Our plans include a further 35Ml/d reduction in groundwater abstraction by 2030.

Innovative plans are already underway to reduce abstraction in the River Ver, River Mimram, Upper River Lea and River Misbourne.

By reducing abstraction, more water is left in the environment, helping us to protect our rare chalk streams and the wildlife that calls them home; from shrimps, dragonflies and snails, to water voles, kingfishers and otters.

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Reducing
demand

Reducing demand

To reduce water demand, we are investing in our metering and Smart Metering programmes. These help our customers understand how much water they are using, and create more opportunities to save water and money.

As part of our new Smart Metering programme, we’re aiming to install more than 350,000 smart meters in households by 2030. Smart Meters provide real-time information about your water usage, helping you save even more.

More than 3 in 4 of our customers are already saving money on a water meter. If you don’t already have a meter, why not apply for one today?

On top of saving money, your meter will:

- help you save water
- make sure you only pay for the water you use
- make it easier for us to stop leaks, reducing water waste
- help our local environment, by leaving more water in our rivers and streams
- we're also piloting Smart Meters, which provide real-time information about water usage, helping you to save even more.

Apply for a water meter

Keep
Life Flowing

If helping the environment wasn’t enough, you’ll also save money too.

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could you save?

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