Southern Water, which serves 4.7mn customers, is in discussions with a private supplier to tanker water from Norwegian fjords to mitigate against potential supply shortages and drought. The regional monopoly is in early-stage discussions with Extreme Drought Resilience Service,

Southern Water has drawn up contingency plans to ship in water from Norwegian fjords to mitigate against potential supply shortages and drought.

Southern Water, which covers Sussex and Kent, has put its draft water resources management plan out for public consultation. The company said the plan, which looks ahead to 2075, has to take into account a predicted population growth of 10% in 30 years,