What is proposed?

Southern Water, like all other water companies, is looking forward into the future to ensure they can continue to supply their customers into the future. With climate change and increased demand for water, the company is working on a package of solutions to create greater resilience especially during dry weather and drought. They have called this wider reaching programme ‘Water for Life’. 

As part of ‘Water for Life’ Southern Water proposes to build a new water recycling plant in Havant, close to the Budds Farm wastewater treatment works. The proposal is for the plant to take some of the wastewater coming to Budds Farm for treatment, to treat it before pumping it up to the new reservoir at Havant Thicket, where the water would mix with the spring water filling the reservoir. Southern Water would then pump water from the reservoir to its water supply works in Otterbourne, where it would be treated further before supplying customers in western Hampshire.

You can find an overview of the project on Southern Water's website, including their own FAQs and links to further detail. 

How does water recycling work?

Southern Water’s water recycling information hub includes a video explaining the process.

Why is this needed?

Southern Water set out the reasons for the project in their Water Resources Management Plan and on the Need for the Project page on the Water Transfer and Recycling webpages.

Why isn’t Southern Water fixing their leaks instead?

Southern Water says that a range of measures and strategic solutions are needed to secure adequate water supplies in the future. Fixing leaks in the water supply network also forms part of the company’s long term Water Resources Management Plan.

What alternative solutions have been considered?   

To answer this question, Southern Water refer interested parties to their Technical documents, in particular Annex 5 at 'Gate 2'.

Has the community been consulted on the proposals?

Southern Water has summarised the consultations they have undertaken to date.

Will untreated wastewater contaminate the Havant Thicket Reservoir?

Portsmouth Water and Southern Water state that only purified, recycled water would go into Havant Thicket Reservoir under the proposal, where it would mix with spring water and rain water.

What is the interaction between Southern Water and Portsmouth Water on this project?

The two companies are working closely together on the plans. Portsmouth Water is building the Havant Thicket Reservoir – Southern Water is funding it. Southern Water is proposing the additional Water Recycling Project because it faces a shortfall in water available to supply customers in western Hampshire due to the need to take less from the rivers Test and Itchen. Under the proposals, recycled water would be stored in the Havant Thicket Reservoir so there is more available for public supply – especially during a drought. 

Will recycled water form part of the water supplied by Portsmouth Water in the Havant area?

Yes. Although the main purpose of the water recycling project is to reduce abstraction from the rivers Test and Itchen to supply Southern Water customers in that area, part of Portsmouth Water’s supply in the Havant area will come from the Havant Thicket Reservoir, alongside the spring water that is used currently.

Portsmouth Water have told the Council that nearly all of the time the water supply to Portsmouth Water customers would come directly from Bedhampton springs via Farlington Water Treatment Works and therefore remain as it is today. However, in drought or emergency scenarios, Portsmouth Water customers would receive some recycled water mixed with spring water (blended water). 

What is HBC’s involvement in the project?

The Council will NOT be determining the planning application that Southern Water will eventually make.  That is because it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which will be determined by the Planning Inspectorate. The Council will be consulted on the consent application to the government for the project. (see also question about planning permission below).

You can see a video about the Local Authority’s role in the process by clicking on the below link:

Local authorities & nationally significant infrastructure projects

The Council also has no control over who supplies or treats the water in our area, or what methods water companies use to supply or treat water. Neither is the Council a regulator of the water industry. The regulators are The Environment Agency (environment), Ofwat (economics and price setting), Drinking Water Inspectorate (drinking water quality) and the Consumer Council for Water (domestic customer relationship). 

Why does the project not require planning permission from HBC?

The project is defined as a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP).  NSIPs are given a specific type of planning permission via a Development Consent Order.

Under The Planning Act 2008, nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) are large scale projects falling into five general categories (Energy; Transport; Water; Waste Water and Waste). Since April 2012 the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) – on behalf of the Secretary of State - has been the agency responsible for operating the planning process for NSIPs under the Localism Act 2011.

You can see the correspondence between Southern Water and the Secretary of State.

You can view information about the process on the Planning Inspectorate website. This is accompanied by FAQs.

You can follow the progress of the project on the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) website.

What criteria will the scheme be assessed against?

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published a National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure. This Statement will form the main basis for decision making on the development consent order (DCO) application (see above).

The principle of the scheme (as opposed to the acceptability of the detailed proposals) will be established in advance of the DCO, through a decision by Defra on whether or not to approve the Water Resources Management Plan.

How can I make my views known?

If you have questions or comments about the scheme, please direct these to the Southern Water Project Team at HampshireWTWRP@SouthernWater.co.uk. Once the application is made, comments will need to be sent directly to the Planning Inspectorate. You can learn more from PINS about participating in the DCO process.

How can I keep up to date with the project?

Southern Water have a dedicated Water Transfer and Recycling Project page, where they post updates and consultations.

You can also follow the project directly on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.