How can local people have their say on the water recycling proposals?

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The best way to share your views on the water recycling scheme, called the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project, is during Southern Water’s consultation from 29 May to 23 July 2024.

Unlike many other construction projects, the water recycling scheme is what’s known as a “development of major significance". This means it will be approved or rejected, in terms of planning, by the Secretary of State, rather than your local council. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a say.

This planning route, known as a Development Consent Order, or DCO, actually puts more emphasis on public consultation than the traditional Town and Country Planning route. It focuses on talking to local communities and councils in the early stages, and giving them the chance to shape the plans. The 2024 consultation by Southern Water will play a big part in this.

If you’re a Portsmouth Water customer with any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do get in touch. Email us at havantthicket@portsmouthwater.co.uk or give us a call on 023 9249 9888.

The best way to share your views on the water recycling scheme, called the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project, is during Southern Water’s consultation from 29 May to 23 July 2024.

Unlike many other construction projects, the water recycling scheme is what’s known as a “development of major significance". This means it will be approved or rejected, in terms of planning, by the Secretary of State, rather than your local council. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a say.

This planning route, known as a Development Consent Order, or DCO, actually puts more emphasis on public consultation than the traditional Town and Country Planning route. It focuses on talking to local communities and councils in the early stages, and giving them the chance to shape the plans. The 2024 consultation by Southern Water will play a big part in this.

If you’re a Portsmouth Water customer with any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do get in touch. Email us at havantthicket@portsmouthwater.co.uk or give us a call on 023 9249 9888.

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  • Share Drinking water should not be mixed with clean spring water it should be kept separate. How can we object to this proposal on Facebook Share Drinking water should not be mixed with clean spring water it should be kept separate. How can we object to this proposal on Twitter Share Drinking water should not be mixed with clean spring water it should be kept separate. How can we object to this proposal on Linkedin Email Drinking water should not be mixed with clean spring water it should be kept separate. How can we object to this proposal link

    Drinking water should not be mixed with clean spring water it should be kept separate. How can we object to this proposal

    hatter21 asked 6 months ago

    Many thanks for getting in touch.

    Please see below for details of Southern Water’s current public consultation on its Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project, which is running until 23 July 2024.

    We also want to share some important background detail with you.

    Southern Water has agreed to take significantly less water from world-renowned chalk streams, the River Test and the River Itchen in Hampshire - to protect and support these rare and sensitive ecosystems. This will leave the company with a daily deficit of over 160 million litres of water in its Hampshire supply area, in the event of prolonged dry weather. 

    We’re a community-orientated company and pride ourselves on doing the right thing. We want to help our neighbour to address this challenge. As a result, we’re building the new Havant Thicket Reservoir in Havant, which is being funded by Southern Water. The reservoir received planning permission in October 2021. It will enable us to store surplus water from our local springs, and provide up to 21 million litres of water a day to Southern Water during a drought.

    However, even with this 21 million litre per day transfer, Southern Water will still be left with a significant deficit. Therefore, proposals to add purified recycled water to the reservoir, to supplement water levels, are being developed. The proposals are known as the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project. A further public consultation on them is being held from 29 May to July 23, 2024. Please visit Home - Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project (hampshirewtwrp.co.uk) to find out more and have your say. 

    If approved to go ahead, the water recycling proposals would mean Havant Thicket Reservoir could supply a further 90 million litres of water a day to Southern Water, significantly reducing the amount needing to be taken from Hampshire’s chalk stream rivers and the underground aquifers that feed them.

    Water recycling is a tried and tested process, where highly-treated wastewater, that would normally be returned to the natural environment, is further processed to produce purified recycled water. This can then be treated once again to strict drinking water quality standards, before being supplied to customers.

    Water recycling is used extensively in other parts of the world, such as California in the USA and Singapore in Asia, to provide a sustainable source of drinking water.

    With best regards.