00:005,126 million litres of water might one day occupy these fields, as South East Water carry out initial surveys for a potential reservoir to serve Kent.
00:12A reservoir between Herne Bay and Canterbury might not be a surprise, as the site was purchased by South East Water in the 1970s.
00:20Now, the 200-acre basin, which would supply 22 million litres of water each day to residents of Kent, could be one step closer to a reality.
00:32Yeah, so we're looking to submit our planning application in around 2028, looking to award contracts in around 2030, at which point we'll start construction, and looking to get water into supply by the mid-2030s.
00:45But before the finer details, the ground beneath the land is being drilled, up to 75 metres deep.
00:52As part of a surveilling stage, South East Water are first conducting investigations, ensuring the ground conditions are fit for purpose.
01:00Surveyors are looking for clay, which being impermeable by water, will make up the reservoir's basin.
01:06Broad Oak Reservoir comes at a crucial time for the South East, as last year was the UK's hottest summer ever.
01:13Climate change, as well as population growth, place additional stresses on the UK's water, making the site a serious investment into the future.
01:23But despite this, residents in Canterbury have mixed opinions.
01:27Water is not a problem here in Kent.
01:32Housing is.
01:35Homelessness is.
01:39So I don't see why that's a priority.
01:43We should have been building reservoirs over the last 50 years or so.
01:48It's a timing issue, I guess.
01:52I haven't lived here for long.
01:53I do love, I love the area.
01:56But I do miss green and trees.
02:01They want to build it in.
02:02Don't really agree with that.
02:04They want to use it as a reservoir.
02:06Don't agree with that.
02:07A lot of these countries use desalination units.
02:11We could put them all the way up down the coast where there's no land being used.
02:15While residents might thirst for more updates, particularly around environmental concerns,
02:21it might be a long wait until the Broad Oak Reservoir can quench that curiosity.
02:25Don't agree with that.
02:25Don't agree with that.
02:26Don't agree with that.
02:26Don't agree with that.
02:26I don't agree with that.
02:27Don't agree with that.
02:27Don't agree with that.
02:27Don't agree with that.
02:28Don't agree with that.
02:28Don't agree with that.
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02:30Don't agree with that.
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02:31Don't agree with that.
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02:34Don't agree with that.
02:35Don't agree with that.
02:35Don't agree with that.
02:36Don't agree with that.
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