Council leader wants reservoir rethink over recycled water concerns
Southern Water is applying for permission for the project at Havant Thicket
Last updated 19th Aug 2022
A Hampshire council leader has called for plans for a £103 million reservoir to be reconsidered after it emerged Southern Water plans to fill it with recycled water instead of excess spring water.
Southern Water had applied for planning permission for the Havant Thicket facility, to become the first new reservoir in the South East of England to be built since the 1970s.
But Alex Rennie, leader of Havant Borough Council, has now called on the company to explain why the use of water recycling - in a first for the UK - "was not made clear" in the outline planning application.
He said this is likely to have an impact on the public perception of the reservoir, which Southern Water had stated in project documents would be "filled with surplus spring water in winter".
The aim of the reservoir is to provide further sources of water during shortages such as being experienced this summer, by enabling project partner Portsmouth Water to transfer supplies to Southern.
Councillor Rennie said in a letter to Southern Water:
"The council fully recognises the importance of addressing the significant and urgent need to address Hampshire's water shortfall and welcomes the efforts that are being made by Southern Water to address this.
"However, we have serious concerns relating to the use of recycled treatment wastewater as a new water source to top-up the Havant Thicket Reservoir and we are opposed to any such use.
"It is understood that whilst this technology is used widely overseas, this would be the first project of its kind in the UK.
"It is therefore of the utmost importance that the project and the proposal are correctly scrutinised to ensure it is the appropriate way to deliver safe drinking water in an environmentally responsible way.
"This necessitates additional engagement and scrutiny beyond what has taken place so far."
He said the area's Bedhampton Spring produces enough water to fill 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day, with much of it flowing into the sea as it is in excess of local needs.
Southern Water was the first water company in the UK to announce a hosepipe ban this summer while Portsmouth Water has not yet required restrictions.
Southern Water has been approached by the PA news agency for comment.
A project document on the company's website states: "The £103 million Havant Thicket Reservoir Resilience Project involves the construction of a new winter storage reservoir - the first new reservoir to be built in the South East since the 1970s.
"It is a collaboration between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, through the Water Resources in the South East group, to provide resilient water supplies to the region.
"It supports reduced abstraction on chalk rivers, has an overall biodiversity net gain, and will provide a new community leisure facility for the area.
"The reservoir, which will take up to 10 years to fully commission, will be filled with surplus spring water in winter and allow Portsmouth Water to provide a flexible bulk transfer of around 21 Ml/d to Southern Water, as part of an overall commitment to supply 60 Ml/d from a range of sources by 2029."