Portsmouth Water raises 'significant concerns' over Southern Water's Havant Thicket Reservoir plans
Their concerns include loss of control of the reservoir
"Significant concerns” have been raised over plans for the Havant Thicket Reservoir which could potentially stop all supply of water from the reservoir to Portsmouth Water customers.
Portsmouth Water said that the plans submitted by Southern Water would “remove [their] protected right at that reservoir” and “may provide for Southern Water assuming operational control” without the need for agreement, or any provision for compensation for Portsmouth Water and their customers.
It states that if the plans were enacted, Southern would take over Portsmouth Water’s land “by compulsion”.
But the two companies have told The News that it is working together to find a solution.
The fears were expressed as part of a public consultation with Southern Water also seeking the freehold of 11 different plots of land beyond the reservoir that Portsmouth Water owns or holds apparatus on. It forms part of the plans where Southern Water is seeking permission from the Planning Inspectorate to be able to “top up” the reservoir with recycled water.
Portsmouth Water is in the midst of constructing the Havant Thicket Reservoir, the first new reservoir to be built in the United Kingdom for more than 30 years, on land it owns near Leigh Park.
In 2018, Southern Water asked for the reservoir to supply it with the bulk amount of water, to which Portsmouth Water “willingly agreed”.
Plans for this iteration of the project were approved by Havant Borough Council in June 2021, with planning applications for some parts of the land also being submitted to East Hampshire District Council.
In May this year, Southern Water submitted a Development Consent Order containing its plans for use of the reservoir, and during the consultation stage of the planning application, Portsmouth Water submitted a representation document of “objections” to the plans.
The development consent order proposed limits to the amount of water which Portsmouth Water could take from the reservoir to supply its customers.
The plans ensure that Southern Water will be guaranteed a minimum of 115 million litres of water a day from the reservoir, an increase from the previously proposed figure of 90 million litres.
However, Portsmouth Water will only be able to access a maximum of 25 million litres a day, and are not guaranteed any amount of water.
In its representations, Portsmouth Water said it saw this as Southern being “given a guaranteed floor and no ceiling,” while they were stuck with “a permanent ceiling, and no floor,” despite them owning and constructing the reservoir.
Under the proposed plans, Southern Water will also be allowed to transfer all operational rights to the reservoir, and the rights to construct on the Havant Thicket Reservoir land, to another person or organisation. They would be able to do this without any consent or consultation needed from Portsmouth Water.
No specification is made in the plans that any person of interest in developing or operating the reservoir needs to be a “water undertaker”, meaning that the reservoir’s usage as a water supply could be changed.
There are also concerns about how the further construction of the reservoir will affect the surrounding areas. Portsmouth Water highlights that the plans “allows the temporary closure of public rights of way without the provision of a temporary diversion,” which could cause chaos for local residents who live near the construction site.
Portsmouth Water does state that it sees the issues it highlighted as "capable of resolution” as the Planning Inspectorate application moves forward, if Southern Water is amenable to changes to their plans.
In a statement to The News, Portsmouth Water said that while it supports Southern Water in its plans over the recycled water, it was still liaising over other issues.
A spokesperson said: "Portsmouth Water supports the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project and the important role it could play in securing future water supplies across the region. We support Southern Water’s DCO application, but at the same time, we have a number of issues to resolve.
“This will be done via the formal DCO engagement process that will run over the next few months.
“We are continuing to work closely with Southern Water throughout this process and trust that the matters we have raised can be resolved.”
A spokesperson for Southern Water also said it was working ‘constructively’ with Portsmouth Water to find a solution both were happy with.
They said: “As discussions with Portsmouth Water continue, our priority is working constructively together to resolve outstanding issues through the appropriate channels.
“The DCO reflects the purpose of the scheme: to ensure water stored in the reservoir, which is being funded by Southern Water customers, can be used to strengthen drought resilience and ultimately protect the River Test.
“We remain committed to finding a solution that supports customers, water security and the environment."