water sustainability
Enfield Council is advocating for new reservoirs to meet future water demand, while Richmond has approved a local flood resilience project.
Enfield Council backed a motion in September 2026 calling for greater water sustainability, urging engagement with water companies to support proposals for new reservoirs. This aims to meet the growing demands of London and the South East, with an additional 1 billion litres of water per day forecast to be needed by 2050. Councillor Doug Taylor proposed the motion, noting Enfield is in a water-stressed area.
Separately, Richmond upon Thames Council approved a new project in September 2026 to improve flood resilience and water quality at Leg o' Mutton Nature Reserve. The scheme will divert surface water runoff into the reservoir, helping to top up water levels during dry periods and increasing storage capacity to reduce flood risk during high tide events.
Key facts
- Enfield Council backed a motion in September 2026 calling for greater water sustainability. Source
- An additional 1 billion litres of water per day is forecast to be needed by 2050 for London. Source
- Richmond upon Thames Council approved a flood resilience project for Leg o' Mutton Nature Reserve in September 2026. Source
- The Leg o' Mutton project will divert surface water runoff to top up water levels and reduce flood risk. Source
- Enfield is noted as being in a water-stressed area. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.