Agratas has confirmed that the Huntspill River will not be used as a water source for cooling its new £4 billion gigafactory currently under construction in Somerset.
The project, located within the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington, is progressing well, with ‘Building One’ at an advanced stage and anticipated to be operational by the end of 2027.
The Huntspill River, situated to the north of the site, was originally created in 1940 to supply water to the Royal Ordnance Factory, which previously occupied the Gravity site. Today, it serves as a significant flood defence in the county.
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Concerns have been raised about the impact of large infrastructure projects on local water supplies, especially in light of recent dry weather and the hosepipe ban introduced by Wessex Water. However, Agratas has provided assurances that no water will be drawn from the Huntspill River for cooling purposes during construction or once the factory is operational.
Instead, the facility will receive water directly from Wessex Water’s existing network. The Huntspill River, fed by the South Drain and the Cripps River-both tributaries of the River Brue catchment-flows through various points including Gold Corner pumping station and eventually into the River Parrett before reaching the Bristol Channel. The Somerset Rivers Authority has identified the river for potential flood management improvements.
Agratas estimates that the gigafactory will require between 190,000 and 450,000 cubic metres of water annually when operating at full capacity. The company stated it has secured a peak water supply rate of up to 14.5 litres per second from Wessex Water to meet its needs and has no intention of extracting water from the Huntspill River.
Wessex Water has confirmed it has adequate capacity within its network to accommodate the development’s water demand, negating the need for bespoke water sources for Building One.
Further addressing community concerns, Agratas has implemented design changes aimed at minimising water consumption and disruption to local supplies. These include the integration of water storage tanks, water recycling systems, and closed-loop cooling technologies to enhance efficiency.
Additional design modifications such as process improvements and removing steam boilers have reduced projected water consumption by approximately 19% compared to original plans. The company emphasised its commitment to responsible water use and ongoing cooperation with regulatory bodies throughout the construction and operational phases.
Meanwhile, Wessex Water is in the early stages of planning a second reservoir at Cheddar, in partnership with Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, and South West Water, collectively known as West Country Water and Environment (WCWE).