Written questions

Reservoirs: Lee Valley

Commons · Question 26593 · Tabled 2 Sep 2026 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record

Answered 8 Sep 2026

Question

Asked by Sarah Olney

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the relative requirements of the Lee Valley reservoirs compared with the Northern Lower Thames reservoirs in times of drought.

Answer

Answered by Emma Hardy, 8 Sep 2026

In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mothe...