Anglian Water and Cambridge Water have announced plans for a 70-kilometer (approx. 43-mile) pipeline intended to secure water supplies for the Cambridge region, citing pressures from climate change and rapid population growth.

The project's first phase is a 28-kilometer "interconnector" designed to transfer water from Anglian Water's network at Grafham to the Cambridge Water system. 

This initial section is part of Anglian Water's broader multi-billion-pound investment in regional water infrastructure, with future phases planned to include a spur line to feed Cambridge city and an extension into Suffolk.

A public consultation for the proposed interconnector began Oct. 27 and will run until Dec. 21, with the companies expected to host public events with maps and project timelines before submitting a formal planning application.

The companies emphasized the joint challenges of climate change and development. "After the driest spring and summer since 1976, we’re seeing the harsh impacts of climate change on our region first-hand," said Dan Rule, director of water services at Anglian Water. He added that the East of England expects 720,000 new residents by 2043.

According to Caroline Cooper, strategy and regulation director at Cambridge Water, the project could deliver 26 million liters of water daily. Cooper said the pipeline will help "relieve the pressure of abstraction on our underground aquifers" and protect local chalk streams.

Andy Alder, who directs major infrastructure delivery at Anglian Water, said the project is "pivotal" but "must be delivered in the right way," encouraging public feedback. He noted that ecological surveys have already been conducted to adapt plans and protect wildlife along the pipeline's route.