Thames Water Prepares to Restart Beckton Desalination Plant

Thames Water is preparing to restart the Thames Gateway water treatment works in Beckton, east London, by the end of 2026. The facility is intended to help replenish reservoir supplies over the winter to prepare for the following summer, although it will not be operational during the current drought and fifth heatwave.

Since its opening in 2011 at a cost of £500 million, the plant has operated only five times, providing approximately seven days of London's daily water demand over 15 years. Chief Executive Chris Weston has characterized the facility as a poor investment plagued by technical issues, including expired treatment membranes.

The company is currently under severe financial pressure and facing scrutiny from Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. Burnham has criticized water companies for increasing customer bills to fund projects, arguing that customers should not be a source of funding for such investments.