泰晤士水务公司宣布将在年底前重启位于伦敦东部贝克顿的淡水化工厂[1]。该工厂2011年建成，初期投资2.7亿英镑[1]，过去15年间仅运行5次，总成本已达5亿英镑[1]。重启该工厂旨在帮助冬季蓄水，为明年夏季做好准备[1]。
工厂运营面临多重挑战。公司首席执行官克里斯·韦斯顿（Chris Weston）坦言："淡水化工厂对我们来说是个大问题。我想知道为什么一开始要建造它。这不是个好故事，不是个好投资，对此没有任何借口。"[1]该设施长期存在膜更换困难和高电力成本问题[1]。泰晤士水务供应伦敦及泰晤士河谷地区1600万用户[1]，在英国多家水务公司因干旱实施禁用水管措施的背景下，其表现将受到政府严密审查[1]。
Thames Water plans to reactivate its desalination facility in Beckton, East London, before the end of the year to build reserves ahead of next summer [1]. The plant, which cost 270 million pounds to construct in 2011, has operated only five times over the past 15 years, producing 7.2 billion liters of drinking water, with total costs now reaching 500 million pounds [1].
The utility company, which serves 16 million customers across London and the Thames Valley region, faces mounting pressure as multiple water firms across Britain have imposed hosepipe bans due to drought conditions [1]. CEO Chris Weston acknowledged the facility's troubled history, stating: "The desalination plant is a big problem for us. I want to know why it was built in the first place. It is not a good story, it is not a good investment and there is no excuse for that" [1]. The plant has been hampered by significant operational challenges, including high electricity costs and difficulties with membrane replacement [1].