Kew Society opposes the Thames Direct River Abstraction scheme
TDRA Statutory Consultation Brochure
Following a detailed analysis of Thames Water’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) Project, Kew Society has opposed the scheme in our submission to the statutory consultation process.
TDRA Consultation Process
Former TKS Chair, Dr Roger Mason and current TKS Environment Trustee Dr Sarah Clarke attended an information session held by Thames Water in July 2025 at which they questioned Thames Water representatives at length about the TDRA and reviewed the content on the Statutory Consultation Brochure in depth.
The Kew Society fully acknowledges that water companies must plan to conserve and provide adequate water supplies for their communities in the years ahead and plan for population growth in London in the context of climate change. However, we called for the TDRA scheme to be put on hold immediately for the following reasons:
- The basis for the TDRA being the preferred option is unsound.
- The project is likely to bring about harmful ecological changes to the river.
- The abstraction site at Ham Lands, a nature reserve is likely to cause significant damage.
- A full environmental assessment has not been conducted.
- The merits of alternative schemes (specifically the Beckton Water Recycling Scheme) have not been properly considered.
Our full submission to the TDRA consultation can be read here.
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