Letter: Water for London

Sir: Duff Hart-Davis (Country Matters, 2 January) got the wrong answer on artificial refilling of aquifers - at least as far as the Thames Water area is concerned. It is being done. Since our climate cannot be depended upon to fill the natural underground reservoirs on which millions depend for their drinking water, Thames Water has taken steps to boost nature's efforts.

In north London, our artificial recharge scheme tops up the aquifers with drinking water when there is plenty to spare. In the last two years more than a dozen new, two-way wells have been drilled in the Enfield and Haringey area. These will provide 22 million gallons of water a day when drought threatens. We are researching a similar scheme in south London.

Yours faithfully,

W. J. ALEXANDER

Managing Director

Thames Water Utilities

Reading, Berkshire

4 January