Britain’s only desalination plant remains idle during drought
Water flow in the river Thames has dropped low enough to warrant the use of England’s only large-scale desalination plant, but it hasn’t been switched on at all this year
Britain's sole desalination plant, located in Beckton, eastern London, remains idle during the country's ongoing severe drought. Despite the river Thames experiencing historically low water levels, the £250 million Thames Gateway desalination plant has not been operational this year. Designed to supplement London's drinking water during extreme droughts, the facility was installed in 2010 at a cost of £250 million, but it remains dormant due to technical issues.
The plant could produce up to 100 million litres of water per day, accounting for about 4% of Thames Water's daily supply. However, Thames Water spokespersons confirm the plant is undergoing maintenance, with repairs expected to resume operations by the end of 2027.
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