Water suppliers to south-east Essex say they have no immediate plans to use sea water as a source.

On the hottest day of the year, Thames Water announced it was looking at desalinating Thames water to supply the borough of Newham in East London.

But despite East Anglia having the lowest rainfall in the UK, desalinated water for Southend and the surrounding area is not yet an option and reserves for 2004 look good.

An Essex and Suffolk Water spokesman said: "We're investing in water recycling."

Published Wednesday June 9, 2004

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