Proposals being considered by South East water to spend £1 billion to secure water supply for much of Kent over the next 60 years are to go on display the public today.

Ideas including a new water treatment plant at Aylesford and a re-use scheme to be implemented to the river Medway are part of an exhibition at King’s Studio, Aylesford Community Centre in Forstal Road from noon until 8pm.

Utilities chiefs predict that between now and 2080 the population across Kent and Sussex will increase by 50%, meaning the company will need to supply an additional 294.2 million litres each day.

Another concern is how climate change may affect supply over the coming decades.

Visitors are being asked to give feedback on the plans, which will be submitted to the department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) in May.

Specific proposals being put forward are for a new water treatment plant at the former Aylesford Newsprint site by 2023 and developing a scheme to re-use the water from the river Ouse in East Sussex to be operational by 2028.

A second reservoir is also being proposed to neighbour Arlington Reservoir in East Sussex to be built by 2032 along with another at Broad Oak, near Sturry, by 2033.

A longer term plan is the possible use of desalination, a process which makes seawater drinkable, and an Aylesford water re-use scheme to be introduced by 2038.

Lee Dance, head of water resources at South East Water, said: “The draft plan represents a £1 billion investment in water supply infrastructure and has been developed with input from customers, communities, other water suppliers and our stakeholders. It takes into account forecasts of future population and housing growth as well as the uncertainty of climate change.

“We’re keen to hear customers’ views on the proposals for a new water treatment works at Aylesford and a water re-use scheme on the River Medway. The more people we hear from the more thoughts and ideas we can incorporate into our final plan to ensure that you get the water supply you want in the future.”