The Kew Society has formally voiced its opposition to Thames Water's controversial Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) project, following a detailed review of the company's statutory consultation materials.

In its submission to the consultation (which closed on 26 August 2025), the civic group said the TDRA scheme should be put on hold immediately, raising serious concerns about its environmental impact, scientific basis and the lack of proper assessment of alternative options.

Former Kew Society Chair Dr Roger Mason and Environment Trustee Dr Sarah Clarke attended a Thames Water information session in July 2025, where they questioned company representatives about the proposal and reviewed the consultation documents in detail.

While the Society acknowledged the need for Thames Water to plan responsibly for London's future water supply in light of climate change and population growth, it said the current proposal is "unsound" and potentially damaging to the local environment.

In its statement, Kew Society outlined several key objections:

• The evidence supporting the TDRA as the preferred option is unsound.
• The project could lead to harmful ecological changes in the River Thames.
• The proposed abstraction site at Ham Lands, a designated nature reserve, could suffer significant environmental damage.
• A full environmental assessment has not yet been conducted.
• The Beckton Water Recycling Scheme and other alternatives have not been properly evaluated.

The Kew Society said that while it supports long-term, sustainable water management solutions, Thames Water's proposal risks causing irreversible harm to local habitats and wildlife.

The group has urged Thames Water to suspend work on the TDRA until a comprehensive environmental review is completed and all alternative schemes are properly considered.

Thames Water proposes the TDRA project "ensure a reliable water supply during drought periods for residents, businesses, schools, hospitals and other essential services."

The water company believes that with more extreme heat in the UK, it needs to develop new water supply solutions.

To read Kew Society's full statement to the consultation click here. To learn more about the TDRA click here.

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