Southern Water has launched a
public consultation seeking public views on its water
recycling project, which aims to add treated wastewater to
the Havant Thicket Reservoir.
The
Havant Thicket Reservoir, granted planning permission in
2021, is expected to be operational by 2029, covering 160
hectares and holding 8.7 billion litres of water. The
project, led by Portsmouth Water, was initially intended to
store surplus water from the Bedhampton Spring, reducing
demand on chalk stream rivers. However, in 2022, Southern
Water proposed supplementing the reservoir with highly
treated wastewater from the Budds Farm Sewage Treatment
Works, further alleviating pressure on natural water
sources.
This
plan has faced criticism from environmental groups and
Havant Borough Council, which had permitted the reservoir on
the condition it would be filled with surplus water from the
Bedhampton Spring. Now, Southern Water is inviting residents
to participate in the consultation, offering their input on
the “The Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling
Project” including pipeline routes, plant and pumping
station locations, and the overall proposal. The
consultation will close at 11.59pm on July 23, residents can
participate using an online feedback form or respond by
email or post.
Rob
Lawless, programme manager at Southern Water said: “The
Hampshire water transfer and water recycling project will
help keep the county’s taps and rivers flowing. Hampshire
has always depended on its chalk stream rivers and their
underground chalk aquifers for its water. The UK is home to
85 per cent of the world’s chalk streams – Hampshire’s river
Test and river Itchen are two of the finest. Chalk streams
are home to a wide variety of wildlife and are such rare and
sensitive ecosystems that they’re often referred to as
‘England’s
“To
protect these rivers, we must significantly reduce the
amount we take from them, a situation made more challenging
by our growing population and changing climate. The
Hampshire water transfer and water recycling project would
be able to supply up to 90 million litres of water a day
during a drought. That means 90 million litres a day more
left in the environment, when nature needs it most.”
The News 4th June
