South Oxfordshire council calls for reassurances on emergency discharge from Abingdon reservoir
Concerns have been raised about flood risk, environmental impact, and planning gaps.
The Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers, has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeking answers about emergency discharge arrangements for the proposed Abingdon reservoir.
The Abingdon reservoir, part of Thames Water’s Water Resource Management Plan and South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), has raised concerns locally over the potential impact of emergency discharge into the Thames, among other issues.
Under the current plans, Thames Water would build an emergency discharge facility allowing the reservoir to empty at a rate of 1 metre of height per day, potentially lasting three to four weeks. This would pour large volumes of water back into the Thames south of Abingdon, significantly increasing the river’s flow.
These arrangements have triggered fears over increased flood risks affecting nearby homes, businesses, communities, and wildlife, should the discharge occur. Councillor Filipova-Rivers has called for a commitment to funding necessary resources to respond to such incidents before further government approval is given to the project.
"The council is gravely concerned that such a discharge could cause havoc along the Thames, endangering lives, homes, businesses, communities and the environment," Filipova-Rivers said in her letter.
She added that Thames Water is not currently required to have an emergency discharge plan before the reservoir is constructed. Instead, regulations only require such a plan prior to filling the reservoir, which the council leader argued would leave future Oxfordshire authorities to manage any crisis without prior preparedness.
At a full council meeting on 11th December, members debated the reservoir project after Councillor Barlow raised a motion expressing concerns about emergency discharge impacts.
Discussions highlighted the risks, including potential harm to nearby residences, such as homes in Culham, where a resident described being "probably the nearest or one of the nearest homes" to the planned outfall tunnel on the Thames. The motion also emphasised worries over growing financial costs, environmental impact, and potential increased flood risks.
Thames Water is currently holding a public consultation on the SESRO plans, which will close on 13th January 2026. Feedback from the consultation will contribute to their Development Consent Order application, expected in autumn 2026.
Residents can participate through Thames Water’s consultation website and access further details about the proposals there.